NEXTEL TO PROVIDE SUBSCRIBERS AMBER ALERT SYSTEM IN PA.

Meanwhile, at a press conference on the initiative, Timothy Donahue, pres. of Nextel, refused to answer questions on the 800 MHz rebanding order voted out last week by the FCC in his first major public appearance since the FCC action. Donahue fended off several questions, saying Nextel would have no comment until the order is released. “Until I can see the details of the order it’s very difficult for me to comment,” he said.

Donahue also said Nextel would make the technology it’s developing with Communications Labs available to other carriers in the interest of public safety. “We wholeheartedly encourage the rest of the wireless industry to join us in exploring ways to make this service available to all wireless users nationwide,” he said.

John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted and an advocate of the Amber Alert program, said he recently met with CTIA Pres. Steve Largent about a national program that would involve other carriers. “I think he’s going to be the quarterback to carry the ball here and to get the other wireless companies to embrace this certain criteria… and put it on cellphones,” he said. “The other wireless companies are concerned about missing children. It’s free. It’s something that subscribers would probably look at as something positive.”

Walsh told us the press conference was in no way payback for his endorsement of Nextel’s rebanding plan. Walsh met with Chmn. Powell on the Nextel plan, which he promoted on his TV program asking viewers to write letters of support. Donahue said Mon. Walsh’s efforts were important. “I don’t even know the particulars of the FCC ruling, nor do I care,” Walsh said. “All I wanted them to do was clear up the 800 band. That was my agenda. This has got nothing to do with that.”

Ernie Allen, NCMEC pres., said the wireless industry could have a major impact. Allen told us he has been surprised at the number of children rescued as a result of Amber Alert warnings on highways. “We're the milk carton people. We always felt that you needed a child’s photograph,” he said. “Then we started finding kids… If the criteria are narrow and you're only doing Amber Alerts for the most serious cases, where there is key descriptive information to provide to the world… then if you can put text into peoples’ hands in a realtime manner somebody is going to be helped.” Allen added: “It’s counterintuitive, but I have been with a lot of these kids.”

Walsh said his “dream” has been text warnings on the millions of U.S. wireless phones: “We use our cellphones to take pictures, to e-mail, to do all this B.S. This is something good. This could save a life.” Walsh also said he expected other wireless carriers to launch a similar program. “The other carriers have come to the national center and have tried to do it,” he said. “They didn’t have the expenditure of the time and the resources. Somebody stepped up to the plate and that’s been Nextel.”

A CTIA spokesman confirmed the Walsh-Largent meeting and said other carriers were pursuing an Amber Alert system as well. He said Sprint PCS and Cingular had already instituted a warning system to be used by their employees. Sprint’s program is companywide.

“The industry is already going forward to try to implement a nationwide Amber Alert program,” the spokesman said. “There have been numerous discussions with the Justice Dept. and with the national center in that vein. There’s a working group of carriers that’s trying to collaborate on a national program.”