BRIEFS
FJohnson announces $2 million deal
EFJ, Inc. announced that General Dynamics Network Systems awarded EFJohnson a $2 million contract for a Project 25 digital mobile radio system that General Dynamics will integrate for a federal government customer. The Project 25 digital mobile radio system will use EFJohnson’s Voice Over IP Netelligent repeaters and software programmable portable 5100 series radio and 5300 series mobile radios.
EFJohnson provides digital Project 25-compliant interoperable wireless communications systems for federal, state and local agencies involved with homeland security and public safety.
New Valley ends Globalstar rescue
New Valley Corp., an investment group, said it terminated an agreement to infuse $55 million into Globalstar LP and help the satellite telephone company emerge from bankruptcy.
New Valley said it was ending its plan to provide debtor-in-possession financing and acquire a controlling interest in Globalstar due to its inability to reach a final agreement with the company’s creditor committee, Reuters reported.
The proposal, reached more than two weeks ago, included $20 million in debtor-in-possession financing and an additional $35 million in financing if the Delaware bankruptcy court approved the transaction. Still to be negotiated was exactly how much of a stake New Valley and Globalstar’s creditors would own once the company emerged from bankruptcy.
Miami-based New Valley said it will continue to seek opportunities to acquire additional companies.
Congressmen berate 9-1-1 effort
Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY) said that new information shows that cell phone companies and federal regulators have failed to implement life-saving technology that would allow emergency calls from cell phones to be tracked by police and other emergency responders. At a Capitol Hill press conference, the Congressmen announced new legislation that would accelerate implementation of tracking technology, and strengthen FCC sanctions against wireless providers who fail to comply with emergency regulations.
In 1996, the FCC and wireless providers agreed to implement technology allowing police, fire, and rescue personnel to locate people calling 9-1-1 on a cell phone. Wireless providers were required to make substantial progress by October 2001.
The congressmen say that despite the availability of the necessary technology, no progress has been made because the largest wireless providers complained about the cost and the FCC caved. The regulators stalled implementation to 2005.
More than 500 dead spots have been identified in NYC for the six major carriers. The representatives added that a study found that 33 popular cell phone brands are not equipped with FCC mandated technology to switch 9-1-1 calls from within a dead spot to another carrier.
