THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994                    TAG: 9406040257 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940604                                 LENGTH: BLACKSBURG 

VIRGINIA TECH PROMOTES STATE AS WIRELESS INDUSTRY EXPANDS

{LEAD} Like the personal computer industry in 1979, the wireless communications industry is poised for rapid expansion. On Friday, Virginia Tech brought researchers together with product developers and buyers as part of its effort to ensure the state gets a share of the new business.

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission will announce the ground rules for an auction of a radio spectrum previously reserved for the government's own communications.

{REST} The broadcast space would be available only for companies developing new, wireless communications devices, including telephones, computers and fax machines. Companies could bid for licenses as early as the end of the year.

The 200 megahertz worth of space is a sizable chunk. The cellular phone industry, serving more than 10 million users, was built on 50 megahertz.

The expansion of the commercial radio band will substantially reduce the cost of cellular communications and open up markets for new products, said Brian Woerner, director of the Mobile and Portable Radio Research Group at Virginia Tech.

``With the conference, the spotlight really is on southwest Virginia,'' Woerner said.

The state established the Center for Wireless Telecommunications at Virginia Tech in July to promote the technology and increased the annual appropriation from $300,000 to $500,000 this year.

``The state sees this as an industry it wants to foster,'' said Jeff Reed, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Virginia Tech. ``It has asked the university to assist companies in developing technology and help companies locate here.''

by CNB