NTCH Launches Service in Grand Junction, CO

Under the brand name Cleartalk, NTCH Inc. (El Segundo, CA), the holding company of Los Angeles, CA-based communications investor, Glenn Ishihara, launched commercial CDMA-based PCS service in Grand Junction, CO, on February 1, 2000. The service provider signed up 500 subscribers during its first 60 days of operation.

The service is targeted toward residents requiring little or no roaming services. Customers can choose from two plans that charge 10¢ for each additional minute and 15¢ for long-distance: A $20 plan that includes 150 minutes or a $49 plan that includes 1,000 minutes. An $89 unlimited plan also is available. Ishihara bid for and received the Grand Junction C-Block license in the FCC re-auction issued on June 30, 1999.

NTCH has licenses to serve more than 1.1 million people and operates under its Cleartalk brand name in predominantly under-served rural markets and will be providing services under its Rio-Tel brand name along the U.S.-Mexico border. The company relies on business model and key relationships with national tower ownership company American Tower Corp., equipment vendor Lucent Technologies, and billing services vendor ASC Billing Solutions.

The current coverage of the company under licenses owned or under contract to be purchased extends to nine Basic Trading Areas (BTAs): Grand Junction, CO; Eureka and El Centro, CA; St.George, UT; Pocatello, ID; Clovis, NM; Midland and Del Rio/Eagle Pass, TX; and Bartlesville, OK.

Edited by Ellen Jensen