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To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (3359)	4/11/1999 11:15:00 AM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12823

Long distance carriers look to wireless cable TV for local access Forbes: forbes.com By Charles Dubow NEW YORK. 05:20PM EST—Shareholders of People's Choice (otc: PCTV), the Shelton, Conn.-based wireless cable TV company, must be hugging themselves these days. In the second time in as many months, a major long distance carrier has acquired a sizable stake in the company. Today Sprint (nyse: FON), the nation's number three long distance carrier, announced that it has purchased 497,405 shares of People's Choice for $15 million. Last month the number two carrier, MCI WorldCom (nasdaq: WCOM) paid about $200 million for stakes in People's Choice and three other small wireless cable companies--CAI Wireless Systems (otc: CWSS), Wireless One (otc: WIRL) and closely held CS Wireless Systems. The wireless licenses controlled by these four cable TV companies could allow Sprint and MCI WorldCom to expand into new markets without going through local phone networks, which are controlled by the Baby Bells. The technology would enable the long distance carriers to reach customers without paying fees to lease local phone networks. These four companies have access to the MMDS (multichannel multipoint distribution service) spectrum that uses microwave frequencies to beam television signals. This technology, however, still has to work out some bugs and has been unable to successfully compete against traditional cable television providers. What Sprint and MCI WorldCom are really after are the licenses. All three of the nation's long distance providers, including number one AT&T (nyse: T), are actively trying to find a way into the local phone markets. The Baby Bells that provide this local service are just as determined to keep them out. While wireless cable technology may not be the answer it seems to be, the battle for the local markets is only beginning to heat up.