Wireless Users Face Shut-Down

A group of over 1 million cellular users face being shut down by a 2002 FCC decision allowing carriers to drop analog phone service in February, 2008. Facing a black-out are 500,000 OnStar customers with cars older than 2005, about 138,000 alarm customers, and another 1 million handset customers. Most handset customers can easily upgrade to a newer digital phone, and alarm customers generally use the cellular link only for back-up communications with the central station. But the OnStar customers have no way to replace or upgrade their cellular gear to newer digital, meaning they’ll lose service completely after the February shut-down. OnStar’s parent General Motors faces a lawsuit from customers who say they were never told their 2002-2005 vintage cars would soon become obsolete.