What: Keeping up with today's technology can be difficult. But keeping up with tomorrow's personal communications equipment will, at times, be numbing. In December, for example, a new way of doing business with the government will begin when the federal licensing of radio waves will be auctioned to U.S. businesses. The Federal Communications Commission hopes this action will deliver new and better wireless services to the public -- from cellular phones to pagers, portable radios to wireless remote controllers. To clarify the issues involved in the next generation of wireless digital communications, UC Davis is sponsoring a one-day seminar on "Auctions for Broadband Personal Communications Services." The meeting brings together a group of national experts, including policy-makers, economists and telecommunication scientists. When: Friday, Nov. 11, beginning at 9 a.m. (The tour begins at 2 p.m. in Room 3174 of Engineering Unit II) Where: Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, UC Davis Visuals: Following the discussion sessions there will be a special tour offered by UC Davis electrical and computer engineering professor Kamilo Feher, an expert on wireless digital communication. A tour of his communications laboratory in the engineering building will follow his presentation. Background: Conference organizer Tom Hazlett, associate professor of agricultural economics at UC Davis, is the director of the campus Program on Telecommunications Policy at the Institute of Governmental Affairs. Hazlett served at the FCC in 1991-92 when the congressional reforms were adopted to allow the commission to auction off spectrum rights to communication businesses. By using a new licensing strategy, the FCC hopes to provide business opportunities for many companies in the United States to compete and invest in wireless communication. The growth in the wireless communication business has been phenomenal, according to Feher. "Ten years ago there were 300,000 users of wireless communication. Today there are 20 million. So the growth rate in this industry is faster than personal computers," said Feher.