Verizon Wireless said its customer base reached 29.4 million by end of 2001, nearly 10% increase from year earlier. Company released preliminary 4th quarter and 2001 results, with full figures set for release Jan. 31. In 4th quarter, carrier added 715,000 customers. Customer turnover rates (churn) dropped to monthly average of 2.5%, Verizon said. Carrier said it invested more than $4 billion in its network in 2001, including 13% increase in cell site coverage, deployment of 2-way short-messaging service and conversion of 20% of network to 1XRTT version of CDMA.

Preliminary CES attendance report: CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro told reporters Wed. that Day One turnout Tues. was 12,000 higher than opening day last year.

Western Wireless expects to post roaming revenue of $54- $55 million for 4th quarter, reflecting decline in roaming min. as travel dropped off nationwide last fall, Chmn.-CEO John Stanton said. Carrier released preliminary domestic 4th quarter and full-year results and plans to release final numbers Feb. 26. Western Wireless had $63.43 million in roaming revenue in 3rd quarter. Company plans to report service revenue of $208-$211 million for quarter and $874- $877 million for year. Carrier said it expected additional 19,000 subscribers in quarter, with average monthly customer turnover rate of 2.3%. “Our operating results in the 4th quarter were disappointing,” Stanton said. Focus on converting analog subscribers to digital placed “temporary downward pressure on growth and cash flow,” he said. Western Wireless reached new roaming agreements with roaming partners that reflected “value” of its rural markets, he said. “Unfortunately, during the fourth quarter, roaming minutes from all of our partners grew less than we expected as a result of a slowdown in travel nationwide.” In other preliminary wireless financial results: (1) Dobson Communications said it added 45,400 proportionate subscribers in 4th quarter, down from 60,700 in same period last year. Carrier added 166,000 net subscribers in year, meeting projections that it would add 162,000-172,000. Dobson said 28,500 analog customers moved to digital in 4th quarter. Chmn.-CEO Everett Dobson said that “with our transition to digital nearly complete and the relatively low level of penetration in our rural markets, we have ample opportunities for profitable growth.” (2) Alamosa Holdings, largest Sprint PCS affiliate, said it met projected subscriber additions for 4th quarter, adding 99,000. It said subscriber base grew to 503,000 as of end of 2001. However, Churn rate in quarter reached 3.3% and in 2.7%, within guidance for full year. (3) Leap Wireless said it ended 2001 with 1.12 million customers, meeting projection of 1.1 million, and increased customer base 54% in 4th quarter from 724,000, and expected to end 2002 with nearly 2 million.

Ariz. Corporation Commission (ACC) plans Sec 271 workshop sessions week of Jan. 21 so all parties can comment on preliminary Qwest operation support system (OSS) test results. Test administrator CapGemini Ernst & Young in Dec. 21 report concluded Qwest was providing CLECs with nondiscriminatory wholesale OSS access that was “substantially” at parity with Qwest’s retail access, as required by Telecom Act. CapGemini report included 16 recommendations, mainly aimed at ensuring Qwest in future continued to provide CLECs with adequate OSS access. Recommendations included call for periodic audits of all measures to guarantee continued accuracy of Qwest’s performance reporting and continuing monitoring of its redesign of its change management processes to ensure new process worked as promised. At conclusion of commission’s workshop, CapGemini will incorporate comments into its final OSS testing report to be filed with ACC around end of Jan. ACC staff will make its recommendations on Qwest’s Sec. 271 petition by end of Feb., with commission to issue final ruling possibly in March. Agency has regular meetings scheduled for Feb. 26 and March 19, but ACC spokesman said agency could choose to schedule special meeting at another time specifically for 271 ruling. He said ACC not only would consider OSS test results but also must rule on adequacy of Qwest’s proposed performance assurance plan, rule on compliance with 4 OSS-related points of Telecom Act’s 14- point checklist and determine whether carrier’s long distance entry would be in public interest. Qwest said it anticipated being able to file its 271 application with FCC in March.

Dept. of Energy (DOE) will publish preliminary standby-power product list and testing guidelines on Web site. List follows Executive Order signed July 31 by President Bush that directed govt. agencies to purchase devices with minimal standby power at or below 1 w where available. DoE, in consultation with General Services Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, was ordered to develop list of products that complied with requirement. List includes computer and office video, audio, telecom and other products. Manufacturers will continue to submit self-certified data on standby power levels of products, DoE said. Agency is required to revise list annually but said it would update it regularly with new voluntary manufacturer data when received. Publication Mon. of procedures was not unexpected, as agency faced end-of- year deadline, but language on Web site emphasizing 1 w was surprise, said Doug Johnson, CEA dir.-Technology Policy. Decision orders agencies to use 1 w standby as purchasing preference when available, but only where cost effective, he said. If such products aren’t available, order directs agencies to buy those with lowest standby power wattage while in their standby power consuming mode and “acknowledged that a blanket 1 w requirement wasn’t good policy,” he said. Many products on DoE list have standby power levels much higher than 1 w. For example, recommended personal computers, category also covered by Energy Star program, have standby power levels of 15-30 w. “Even in standby mode these products have functions that are relevant, functions that likely are relevant to the govt. agencies that purchase these product,” Johnson said. List, guidelines and instructions on submitting product data can be found on DoE Web site: http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement.

Dept. of Energy (DOE) will publish preliminary standby- power product list and testing guidelines on Web site. List follows Executive Order signed July 31 by President Bush that directed govt. agencies to purchase devices with minimal standby power at or below 1 w where available. DoE, in consultation with General Services Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, was ordered to develop list of products that complied with requirement. List includes computer and office, video, audio, telecom and other products. Manufacturers will continue to submit self- certified data on standby power levels of products, DoE said. Agency is required to revise list annually but said it would update it regularly with new voluntary manufacturer data when received. Publication Mon. of procedures was not unexpected, as agency faced end-of- year deadline, but language on Web site emphasizing 1 w was surprise, said Doug Johnson, CEA dir.-Technology Policy. Decision orders agencies to use 1 w standby as purchasing preference when available, but only where cost effective, he said. If such products aren’t available, order directs agencies to buy those with lowest standby power wattage while in their standby power consuming mode and “acknowledged that a blanket 1 w requirement wasn’t good policy,” he said. Many products on DoE list have standby power levels much higher than 1 w. For example, recommended personal computers, category also covered by Energy Star program, have standby power levels of 15-30 w. “Even in standby mode these products have functions that are relevant, functions that likely are relevant to the govt. agencies that purchase these products,” Johnson said. List, guidelines and instructions on submitting product data can be found on DoE Web site: http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement.

Mich. PSC advised Ameritech that if it were to rule now on telco’s Sec 271 compliance, it would have to conclude Ameritech had flunked 4 of 14 points on Telecom Act’s local competition checklist. PSC said it issued preliminary report to “forewarn” Ameritech that it must “redirect” its efforts if it wanted agency to endorse interLATA long distance bid to FCC. PSC said Ameritech (Case U-12320) fell short of meeting Point 2 (access to network elements) because of serious inadequacies in handling unbundled network element (UNE) transfers when customer switched service from one CLEC to another. Those inadequacies could have “grave potential effect” on development of local competition, PSC said, and directed that Ameritech file by Jan. 9 its plan for addressing that “most serious” 271 compliance problem. PSC said Ameritech failed to meet Point 4 (local loop transport) for its handling of line splitting. It said Ameritech must allow separate migrations of voice and data portions of split line and must streamline ordering and provisioning processes for UNE platforms where line splitting is involved. Agency said Ameritech would flunk on Point 7 (access to 911 and directory assistance databases) because its DA listing charges weren’t cost based and Point 10 (access to signaling and network databases) because it wasn’t offering access to calling name database as separate UNE.

Consumer intentions on buying TV sets fell sharply in Dec. from Nov., despite strong recovery in overall consumer confidence, according to preliminary data in Conference Board monthly survey. Of 5,000 households polled, 6.8% said they planned to buy TV set in next 6 months, vs. 7.7% in Nov., 6.8% in Oct., 7.2% in Dec. 2000. Consumer Confidence Index jumped more than 8 points in Dec., following significant declines in each of 3 previous months, Conference Board said: “The deterioration in current economic conditions appears to be reaching a plateau, led by a stabilizing employment scenario. Consumers’ short-term optimism is no longer at recession levels, and the upward trend signals that the economy may be close to bottoming out and that a rebound by mid-2002 is likely.”

In advance of upcoming regional meetings that lead to World Radio Conference (WRC) in 2003, WRC Advisory Committee took up draft U.S. views on 10 more agenda items Wed., although other policy areas were awaiting final position from U.S. govt. before preliminary view could be crafted. “Our stated objective when we started this process was to be ready a year or more in advance [of WRC] to consult with our colleagues around the world, so that we have solid proposals that have international support as we go into Caracas,” FCC International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson said at WRC Advisory Committee at FCC hq Wed. Next WRC meeting is set for 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela, with Latin American regional meeting in advance of WRC in Feb. “The goal is to try to come up with, as soon as we can, final proposals… so that we have a great chance of success when we get to Caracas,” Abelson said. U.S. planning process for next WRC has emphasized having positions crafted well enough in advance of regional telecom policy meetings so U.S. could weigh in as those broader stances were formed. FCC last week closed comment period on preliminary views and draft proposals, including dozens adopted by WRC Advisory Committee as of Oct.

Elected Kodak vps in Consumer Imaging Div.: Jaime Szulc, former gen. mgr. for Latin American region; Mark Schneider, former chief technology officer… Odell Guyton and (David Dadoun appointed Microsoft dir. of compliance and internal antitrust compliance officer, respectively… Preliminary list of keynote speakers announced for Game Developers Conference March 19-23 in San Jose, Cal.,: Peter Chan, conceptual illustrator; Ray Colcord, Society of Composers and Lyricists pres.; John Conway, Princeton U. math prof.; Toshihiro Nagoshi, Amusement Vision pres.; Gabe Newell, Valve Software managing dir.; Shin'ichi Okamato, Sony Computer Entertainment chief technology officer-vp; Kazunori Yamauchi, Polyphony Digital pres.; Shuhei Yoshida, Sony Computer Entertainment America product development vp.