Safety group asks FCC to block Cingular/AWS merger

[bobolito]

Safety group asks FCC to block Cingular/AWS merger

by Jeffrey Silva
April 29, 2004 1:36 PM EST

WASHINGTON—A safety group asked the Federal Communications Commission to block Cingular Wireless L.L.C.’s proposed $41 billion acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. if the parties do not agree to set aside radio channels for emergency alert service.

The Cellular Emergency Alert Service Association submitted a petition yesterday with federal regulators to deny the merger. May 3 is the deadline for filing challenges to the blockbuster wireless deal.

Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless want to complete the transaction by the end of the year. Experts predict the FCC and Justice Department will approve the merger.

[xikle]

What does the safety group have against the merger? It seems like the merger would make the market more competative.

[WirelessBeachBum]

I found some related info by a google search.

"The Cellular Emergency Alert Service Association (CEASA) is working with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to test this technology this fall. During the test which will last for a few months, emergency personnel in the Emergency Operation Center will be able to designate a region on a map and send digital messages to every digital cell phone within that region. Even visitors to Washington will receive the messages. PPW will provide an evaluation of the test."

This sounds great...it will be another Orson "War of the Worlds" I wouldn't want to be visiting DC and have a test alert on my phone.

What's next orange and yellow alerts using mms?

The carriers are not going to get involved with this program if you sue them...It's also a little bit too "big brother" for my taste...and I sell gps tracking systems...so I'm pretty open minded.

[GoodmanR]

There has been some talk of this in the DC area for awhile. Of course, aGPS chips wouldn't be used at all, but I still can certainly understand the privacy concerns. The tests this year will not send SMS to anyone who is not part of a test group. It is more a test of the dispatching center to the carriers/switches, and will not send to actual handsets as of yet.

[verizonboy]

That sounds good, but i wonder if they will charge for you to recieve the messages. I could see companies trying to make a profit of something that they are mandated to do. Kind of like when Cingular turned a lawsuit into their rollover campaign. I am sure they will try to come up with something. I wish that NTT Docomo would have bought AT+T to tell the truth. Then maybe we could get some of the features that they have been able to get in Japan for the last 3 years.

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by verizonboy

That sounds good, but i wonder if they will charge for you to recieve the messages. I could see companies trying to make a profit of something that they are mandated to do. Kind of like when Cingular turned a lawsuit into their rollover campaign. I am sure they will try to come up with something. I wish that NTT Docomo would have bought AT+T to tell the truth. Then maybe we could get some of the features that they have been able to get in Japan for the last 3 years.

like W-CDMA??

[agentHibby]

Hopefully it will go threw!
Look Verizon's Native coverage Coverage to AT&T/Cingular Native Coverage

Thanks BillRadio

[bobolito]

WCDMA is coming anyway no matter who buys AT&T Wireless.

[cryogenic]

Originally Posted by bobolito

WCDMA is coming anyway no matter who buys AT&T Wireless.

My question is this... what about EDGE? Will the merger speed up the adoption of EDGE at all? In how many markets has each carrier launched EDGE? I can see it helping along the adoption of WCDMA with the pooled resources of both companies. Things should definitely get really interesting in the wireless industry once the merger is completed.

[Matt]

I thought AT&T has launched EDGE nationwide.....

[bobolito]

Yes, AT&T has launched EDGE along its 1900Mhz coverage, which is not very extensive, but it is considered nationwide. Cingular has already launched EDGE in many markets and they expect to be done sometime by the 3rd quarter of this year.

[Mike]

Cingular still has not gone to GSM here in the Tampa Bay Area. Still TDMA. AT&T has GSM here, and it is pretty good.

[Fire14]

Now that May 3rd came and went, did anyone else file to block the merger? is there any word on this yet?

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Now that May 3rd came and went, did anyone else file to block the merger? is there any word on this yet?

Yes, the CEASA group filed to block the merger.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by bobolito

Yes, the CEASA group filed to block the merger.

What are the chances of them succeeding at having the merger blocked? I doubt they could stop it, slowing it down might be more likely.

[bobolito]

It all depends on how good is Cingular/AWS at convincing the FCC not to pay attention to these claims against the merger. However, considering that May 3rd was the deadline to file claims against the merger and since there were only two groups that filed to oppose the merger, I think that's a good ratio of those who agree with the merger versus those who disagree with the merger. It is always normal for these things to happen. Someone always has to disagree with what the majority wants just for the sake of their own selfish interests. In fact, I think Verizon had more opposition groups against their merger but they formed anyway. Since the Cingular/AWS merger seems to be facing so little opposition, I wouldn't worry about the FCC taking their claims seriously since it seems like the great majority of the US wants the merger to happen.

[Fire14]

What really is suprising is that no major Cell phone company even put in a block petition, I really thought T-Mobile was going to since they kept talking about how this may hurt them big time in the long run. But i guess they all are happy with this merger. Now to see how long the FCC takes from this point, since on the site i was reading some of the reasons for or against it, and everyone was for it with the exception of how much frequencie to give them, it seems like 60Mhz to 80 is going to be what they will end up with instead of the 120 they wanted.

[bobolito]

Yeah, there aren't many "insurgents" opposing the merger. I thought the same about T-Mobile and I though even Nextel or Verizon could file against it, since they think they are the police of the wireless industry.

I was reviewing the spectrum charts and it seems like there's only one place in Texas where they would have 120Mhz combined. There are some other places with up to 95Mhz and even more with 80Mhz. We'll see how the FCC addresses this issue.

[agentHibby]

As all we know these is no spectrum limit; however, I dont think the Fcc is going to let AT&T and Cingular go past 80 MHz right now in most areas (A agentHibby prediction) I would be nice if they only had to sell PCS in areas where they own alot of it. Hopefully, they won't have to sell cellular in those markets??

[agentHibby]

I can see Verizon opposing AT&T/Cingular having both A and B Cellular blocks, I can also see Verizon opposing high MHz like 70 or above in any market. I don't see Verizon opposing this deal 100%. I could be wrong on this