Tuesday, June 26, 2012: The Wireless History Foundation (WHF) announced today the names of four accomplished individuals who will be inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame during the Foundation’s Oct. 10, 2011 dinner in San Diego. The 2011 inductees are:

Nick Kauser — Former Chief Technology Officer of four major wireless carriers including Rogers Cantel, McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless Services, and Clearwire Corporation, which he also co-founded. Kauser built the first nationwide network across both Canada and the United States. He led U.S. standards processes, aggressively explored new technologies, and laid the basis for nationwide automatic roaming.

Robert Marino — Former President and first employee of United TeleSpectrum (now Sprint), also former President of cellular companies including Compania de Radiocomunicaciones Moviles (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Houston Cellular Telephone Company (now part of AT&T Mobility), and the Northeast Region of Nextel Communications (now Sprint). Marino moved from the carrier side to industry services as Group President of Convergys Information Management Group and Chairman of the Board of Syniverse.

Clayton Niles — Radio telecommunications pioneer and former Chairman of Communications Industries (acquired by Pacific Telesis Group). Niles began his wireless career in 1948. He played a critical role in securing interconnection for the radio common carrier (RCC) industry and in convincing the FCC to open cellular applications to RCCs, as well as telephone companies.

Arnold Pohs (posthumously) — Former Chairman of the Board and CEO of CommNet Cellular, Inc. (acquired by AirTouch), former Chairman of the Board of CTIA – The Wireless Association and the CTIA Wireless Foundation. Pohs was a strong advocate for rural wireless, building a network of rural systems at a time when others doubted their value. Pohs was a respected industry leader and a strong advocate before the FCC and Congress on industry issues. Pohs passed away in April 2011.

“These are outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in all aspects of wireless development, and we are honored to induct them into the Wireless Hall of Fame,” said Wireless Hall of Fame member and Qualcomm Founder Dr. Irwin Jacobs, who is Chairman of the 2011 Wireless Hall of Fame dinner.

The dinner will take place at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego on Oct. 10, the evening before the CTIA Enterprise and Applications™ 2011 tradeshow. For additional information, or to participate as a sponsor of the 2011 Wireless Hall of Fame Dinner, please contact Liz Maxfield at liz(at)wirelesshistoryfoundation dot org.

The Wireless Hall of Fame program recognizes outstanding achievement across all disciplines of the wireless industry. Twenty-eight individuals have been inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame through 2010. The 2011 selection committee was chaired by Charlie Townsend, President of Aloha Partners, and composed of an anonymous panel of Hall of Fame members.