James Dwyer

FORT MYERS, FL—Aug. 8, 2010—James A. Dwyer, Jr., 73, a visionary and serial entrepreneur who was instrumental in launching the cellular telecommunications industry worldwide, passed away Friday evening at his home in Fort Myers, Florida, after an extended illness.

One of the founding fathers of the cellular business worldwide, Dwyer was a lawyer and salesman best known for starting early cellular systems in several top U.S. markets and working with colleagues and competitors to build a strong base for the young industry.

American Cellular Telephone Corp., the system he launched in Indianapolis on Feb. 3, 1984, was the third cellular system in the country and the first built from the ground up for commercial service. The first two systems had been in experimental trials for several years

Dwyer and his allies successfully convinced the FCC to allow independent paging operators and radio common carriers (RCCs) to build public cellular networks and compete with the monopoly wireline telephone company.

At the time, many of these businesses were family-run operations licensed by the commission to provide private paging, answering, and early car telephone services. The decision unleashed a historic wave of investment and competition in wireless telecommunications.

“The entire wireless industry is saddened by the loss of Jim Dwyer,” said Dennis F. Strigl, retired President and COO of Verizon Communications and former President and CEO of Verizon Wireless.

Dwyer was a founding member of the CTIA, the wireless association, served as a director and was chair from 195-96. He led the association as Congress revised the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major overhaul of telecom law in 62 years.

Dwyer was Founder and President of Independent Cellular Network, Inc., and Wireless One Network, operating cellular systems under both wireline and non-wireline licenses in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. In October 1996, ICN was sold to 360 Communications Co., which was acquired by Alltel Corp. in 1998. WON was sold to AT&T Wireless in June 2000.

Dwyer also owned and operated Qualicom Electronics Corp., a company specializing in paging and trunked radio systems for businesses. In 2002 he founded Interop Technologies with his son and was chair at the time of his death.

Interop Technologies (www.interoptechnologies.com) provides core wireless solution

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Tags: dies, Florida, Interop Technologies, James Dwyer, Jr., wireless pioneer