The new FCC Chair, Tom Wheller, let the new Chairman of Sprint (Clearwire, Softbank, Sprint, Nextel combo company) know that a merger with T-Mobile won’t fly. That leaves the door open for DISH Network to make a move on T-Mobile.
In E-Rate news, FCC doubled the money for school broadband to $2 Billion.
“FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said Wednesday he planned to issue a public notice on revamping the E-Rate program, including how to phase out low-band legacy service as the fund is migrated to a focus on high-speed connections….Wheeler said there was no bigger priority for the commission than to insure schools and libraries got high-speed connections, and gave commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel credit for being a leading advocate for focusing the program on speed.” Reports B&C mag.
I know quite a few service providers chasing E-Rate. At the FISPA meeting in Nashville on 2/19-21, there will be sessions and discussions about E-Rate. Also, don’t forget to chase Rural Healthcare as well.
SELLECOM: 101 Ideas for Marketing in the Telecom Jungle. 
