Telecommunications

CIRI is a national success story for minority participation in telecommunications and broadcasting. In late 2004, CIRI formed a new CIRI-controlled joint venture with T-Mobile USA to secure 36 personal communications systems (PCS) licenses in 35 US markets.

CIRI first entered the communications industry in the 1980s in response to incentives offered to promote minority ownership in radio and television broadcasting. The company became the controlling general partner of a national group of major-market radio stations and two major-market network-affiliated television stations. During nationwide consolidation in the broadcasting industry, CIRI repositioned its broadcasting investments, leading to the acquisition of a substantial position in LIN Television Corporation, which in turn was acquired in a further round of consolidation.

In 1995, CIRI entered the emerging personal communications systems (PCS) industry in the U.S., and expanded its participation in wireless communications through various partnership arrangements and opportunities promoting small business participation. As a result, CIRI became the nation's leading minority-owned provider of PCS service. In 2000, as a result of national consolidation of PCS operations, CIRI began to reposition its PCS investments with VoiceStream, now T-Mobile USA, and BellSouth. As a result, CIRI completed a number of successful transactions in 2000, 2001, and 2002 in which it exited some of its partnership interests in T-Mobile USA and BellSouth. CIRI remains active in PCS and, through ongoing partnership arrangements with T-Mobile USA, is actively seeking additional investments in wireless communications and other telecommunications investments.

CIRI actively supports the participation of minority-owned, women-owned, and small business in broadcasting and communications.