TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC to Streamline Bidding for Small Firms: Auctions of mobile phone licenses for entrepreneurs that want in on the wireless personal communications services market will be put on a fast track under a new Federal Communications Commission plan aimed at reducing bidding complexity and speeding license awards. Federal regulators have set aside a block of licenses to help small companies compete with wealthier giants such as AT&T; and the regional Bell telephone companies. Bidding is restricted to companies or individuals with less than $125 million in gross revenue and total assets of less than $500 million.