The tough guy in local phones; disdaining regulators, Whitacre carves out SBC empire

Article Abstract:

SBC Communications Chmn Edward E. Whitacre has been working to keep competitors out of his company's local-phone market. Whitacre is said to be responsible for bringing to a close merger negotiations with AT&T. He was apparently angered by a speech Robert E. Allen, AT&T's chairman, made accusing the Baby Bells of being slow to open their networks to competitors. Aside from participating in negotiations with AT&T, since Apr of 1996 SBC has acquired Pacific Telesis in a $16.7 billion deal, sued the federal government to overturn portions of the Telecommunications Act and applied for permission from the FCC to enter the long distance phone market in Oklahoma. Whitacre claims that SBC is open to competitors and points out the $1.2 billion the company is spending and 4,000 new employees it has hired to open its market to rivals.

COMMUNICATION, Communications, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Management, Telecommunications services industry, AT&T Inc., SBC, Local telephone services, Local telephone service, Company Business Management

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Airwave auctions falter as source of funds for U.S.; F.C.C. delays collection; bidders for wireless licenses may not be able to obtain financing of payments

Article Abstract:

The FCC has decided it will not collect payments on the wireless communications licenses that it sold in a 1996 auction, at least temporarily. The payments amount to over $10 billion, money Congress has already committed in balancing the budget. The FCC's decision was prompted by one of the largest bidders, Pocket Communications, filing for bankruptcy. It is reported that many of the other PCS license bidders are also on the verge of defaulting. Government officials report that the FCC will suspend collecting on the PCS license fees until it can be determined whether the Treasury Dept or another government agency can take over collection duties. Wall Street reacted negatively to the FCC's actions.

Personal communications services

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Juggling goals, F.C.C. to hold wireless sale

Article Abstract:

The FCC has revised its auction procedures for wireless licenses and hopes to avoid the problems that arose with the last major auction. Plans are set for the next auction to be held on Feb 18, 1998. This auction is for a spectrum of high-speed communications services and telecommunications analysts expect up to $4 billion could be raised. A deposit of $357 million was required of the auction's participants hoping to deploy local multipoint distribution services (LMDS) technology. An appeal has been filed with the FCC by Webcel Communications to have the auction delayed by 60 days on the grounds that the new rules have dried up sources of revenue for smaller companies.

Government contract

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