Threat to cellular phone services
Article Abstract:
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to rule soon on whether to allow Fleet Call Inc to provide a new form of mobile telephone service. The ruling, should it be in favor of the company, will have far reaching effects on the cellular industry. Currently, regulations only allow two cellular companies to operate in a single city. The ruling would allow private radio service companies that cater to taxi fleets and delivery services, for example, to provide mobile telephone services to individuals. The FCC is said to be in favor of the scheme as this would open up the market to greater competition. The new services may have some drawbacks when compared to regular cellular systems and may turn out to be no cheaper, but critics of the current system claim that the competition factor alone should reduce market prices. Fleet Call would initially set up networks in only six major cities.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Cable tv in phone challenge
Article Abstract:
Three major cable television companies have received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to build experimental telephone networks. The ruling is seen as a considerable threat to established local telephone companies that already provide conventional cellular service. The new networks would allow users to utilize small pocket-sized telephones. The cable television companies would ultimately have to replace existing coaxial cables with high-capacity optical fibers. Analysts believe that many companies already have plans for the transition even though it would call for major investments of capital. The new networks would require the tying together of numerous low-powered radio towers. The towers resemble the existing cellular radio towers but would be capable of detecting the fainter signals.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Competitor in cellular telephones; F.C.C. lets concern start up in 6 cities
Article Abstract:
The Federal Communications Commission decides to allow Fleet Call Inc, a company that provides mobile communications for car and truck fleets, to offer cellular service to individuals in six major cities. Previous FCC rules had confined cellular service to just two telephone companies in each city. The cellular industry has been opposed to the changes from the start. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association claims that the ruling is unfair because it places fewer restrictions on the new service than currently exists on conventional cellular services. The FCC is reportedly in favor of the new ruling as it would open up the cellular market to greater competition, which in turn would lead to lower prices for the consumer.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: News, opinion and commentary
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Telephone services: a growing form of 'foreign aid.' Court bars F.C.C. rule on phones
- Abstracts: The latest front in a long-distance telephone war: recent court rulings have brought new rivals and new features
- Abstracts: Stalking the next Walkman. I.B.M. losing ground in Japan; U.S. computer giant slips into 3d place
- Abstracts: List prices are the latest technology dinosaur. Networld: the talk is of strategic partnerships
- Abstracts: U.S. makes gains in race to develop advanced TV. 2 competitors in pact on advanced TV plan