Rob Mechaley’s future was likely foretold when he built his first receiver from plans he found in a magazine at 8 years old. His success led him to a Ham Radio license at 11 and a First Class FCC (Commercial) license at 14, which steered him to work in broadcasting that opened the doors to his first career in wired networking. Often working on projects that were considered fringe or experimental, he worked for General Electric, Westinghouse, and GTE (now Verizon).
In 1988, Rob began his second career by joining McCaw Cellular. He applied his networking knowledge to challenges beyond voice services, and drove the development and deployment of wireless data solutions, transforming the utility and desirability of wireless services. Rob’s capacity to combine complex technology solutions with operational and business requirements is unparalleled.
Among his achievements at McCaw and then at AT&T, Rob was team leader for the design and implementation of the North American Cellular Network (NACN). This enabled intercarrier operability that finally allowed seamless roaming in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, he was responsible for leading an industry-wide team of specialists that proved and implemented Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) as the first data capability on the analog networks.
Rob was also the force behind the successful implementation of the tracking service between major carriers and UPS. He designed and negotiated a simplified billing scheme that satisfied both UPS and the participating carriers. After leaving AT&T, Rob founded RadioFrame Networks, which pioneered the development of pico and femtocell products to enhance indoor wireless coverage, a technique that is in wide use today. With Craig McCaw and other former colleagues, Rob also co-founded Clearwire, focused on high speed, in-home, fixed wireless service using OFDM technology. Clearwire was acquired by Sprint in 2013.
Currently, Rob is Vice Chairman of Pendrell Corporation, a private permanent capital investment firm, and Founder and CEO of MobileSphere Holdings which develops and licenses technologies based on his patents.
In addition to numerous Board of Directors/Observer roles, including the Wireless History Foundation Board, Rob previously served on the Technology Advisory Board of the Grameen Foundation, dedicated to improving income for the poorest of the poor. For many years, Rob also served as a disaster services/emergency response volunteer for the Red Cross.
Inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2023.
Rob Mechaley Induction Video