All of the following are archived reports for background on Craig McCaw. Not up to date information so PLEASE disregard except for background information - Bill
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Cellular communications is a homegrown industry in Washington state and a local success story of enormous significance. Craig McCaw is to wireless communication as Bill Gates is to software — a Seattle visionary whose ideas started an industry. Not only did Craig McCaw start McCaw Cellular here, but he has since invested heavily in successful local and national telecom companies such as Nextlink Communications, Teledesic Corp., Nextel Communications, Nextel International and Cable Plus.
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Wireless Communications: McCaw To Nextel's Rescue
Cellular mogul agrees to invest up to $1.1 billion in the ailing company
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By Tom Dellecave Jr.
Recent interest by wireless-technology visionary Craig McCaw has Nextel Communications Inc. rethinking its business strategy. With McCaw's promise to invest up to $1.1 billion in Nextel over the next six years, the company now plans to provide digital two-way radio dispatch service to business users.
Users of Nextel's new network will carry handheld, wireless devices that will allow them, for example, to push one button to speak with their su pervisor, another to address the entire workgroup, and a keypad to dial a phone number.
The service had previously been billed as a nationwide consumer-oriented specialized mobile radio (SMR) service that would rival existing cellular services, but McCaw wants to target a niche business market and avoid competing against cellular providers such as AT&T, in which McCaw holds a sizable stake. "My excitement is not to do what I've already done before," says McCaw, "but instead to find something new that makes a contribution to the wireless communications market."
Not Convinced
But some analysts aren't convinced, citing similarities between two-way radio and cellular. "How could you say you're not competing with other technologies that have the same core competencies?" asks Ira Brodsky, president of Datacomm Research Inc. in Wilmette, Ill. "Craig McCaw is a very shrewd businessman. He said this wouldn't compete with AT&T, but I find that hard to believe."
Under terms of the deal, McCaw and hi s family will immediately purchase $314.9 million in stock from Nextel and $49 million in Nextel stock from Motorola. McCaw will get a seat on Nextel's board, with the option to increase his total investment to $1.1 billion over six years.
For Nextel in Rutherford, N.J., McCaw's investment means more than just money; it also provides a much-needed boost to its credibility. "Nobody is going to believe that Craig McCaw would buy into an inferior technology," says Brodsky.
Shortfall Averted
That's not to say the money isn't important. After MCI backed out of a $1.3 billion investment in Nextel last August, Nextel faced an $800 million shortfall on financing for a national digital mobile radio service. Then Nextel on March 27 reported a loss of $125.8 million for the nine months ending Dec. 31, 1994.
"This is the most significant endorsement attainable in the wireless industry," says Morgan O'Brien, Nextel chairman.
McCaw has been looking for a new project since selling his cellular company to AT&T last September for $11.5 billion.
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Level 3 Communications, Inc.
3555 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE, 68131 Phone: 402-536-3677
Fax: 402-536-3677
level3.com
Key Numbers
Exchange: Nasdaq
Ticker: LVLT
Fiscal Year-End: December
1998 Sales ($ Mil.): 392.0
1-Yr. Sales Growth: 18.1%
Employees: 8000
Key People
CEO: James Q. Crowe
CFO: R. Douglas Bradbury
Level 3 Communications hopes that acting as a stepping stone for Craig McCaw will help take the company to the next level. It is building an international fiber-optic network, based on Internet protocol (IP) technology, in which McCaw-controlled entities, including Nextel and Nextlink, are investing in return for network capacity. Level 3 offers local, long-distance and Internet service over leased network capacity in 15 cities in the US and two in Europe. The company, a spinoff of construction giant Peter Kiewit Sons', still derives a majority of revenues from coal mining investments. It also offers computer operations outsourcing and owns stakes in telecom providers RCN and Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises.
Top Competitors:
Qwest Communications International Inc. | AT&T Corp. | MCI WorldCom, Inc.
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AND THIS IS THE ONE I FIND THE MOST INTERESTING.....TELEDESIC!!
teledesic.com
Steven W. Hooper
Co-chief executive officer of Teledesic, which is building a global, broadband "Internet-in-the-sky." Using a constellation of 288 low-earth-orbit satellites, Teledesic is the first satellite communications network that will enable affordable, worldwide availability of fiber-like telecommunications services such as broadband Internet access, videoconferencing, and interactive multimedia.
Mr. Hooper has shared the chief executive officer role with Teledesic chairman Craig McCaw since December 1997. Mr. Hooper, a longtime McCaw associate, also currently serves as chairman of NEXTLINK Communications.
Previously, Mr. Hooper held various positions at AT&T Wireless Services and its predecessor, McCaw Cellular Communications, including president, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer. He was also regional president for Cellular One's Pacific Northwest/Rocky Mountain region. Prior to his work at AT&T Wireless Services, Hooper was assistant vice president and manager of internal financial consulting at Seattle First National Bank.
In addition to serving on Teledesic's board, he serves on the boards of NEXTLINK and Cable Plus Holding Co. He is also a member of the board of trustees for Seattle University.
Mr. Hooper has a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Seattle University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.
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Sorry about the length but following these guys around makes sense.
Bill on the Hill |
