Craig McCaw Issues a ‘No Thanks’ to AT&T;’s Offer of Seat on Board : Communications: Billionaire entrepreneur may be looking at niche in global satellite technology.

Craig McCaw, founder and former chairman of McCaw Cellular Communications, said Friday that he won’t join the board of AT&T; Corp., which acquired his company last month.

One of the nation’s most successful entrepreneurs, McCaw became a billionaire as his company became the largest cellular firm. His interest in global satellite technology and other communications systems that rival AT&T;’s could present the appearance of conflict if he were on the AT&T; board.

McCaw, in a statement, said he wanted to avoid such an appearance by anything he does in the future.

“Even though I will not be a board member, I will be pleased to give any advice or counsel I can to AT&T; whenever it is sought,” McCaw said.

While he and Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates have invested in a firm that is exploring creation of a global satellite network, McCaw has no other ventures immediately planned, said Bob Ratliffe, spokesman for McCaw Cellular.

When AT&T;’s acquisition was announced in August, 1993, McCaw said he would no longer play a day-to-day role in the company. Jim Barksdale, who had been president of McCaw Cellular, now leads the wireless subsidiary of AT&T.;

McCaw will continue to hold his AT&T; stock, Ratliffe said. Documents related to the $11.5-billion transaction in February showed that McCaw would own 14 million AT&T; shares when the deal was complete, making him the largest individual shareholder.

“This sounds like a code for ‘Thank you for making me richer, it’s been fun, and I will see you in my next venture,’ ” said Ken McGee, an analyst at the Gartner Group in Stamford, Conn. “McCaw obviously has a burr in his saddle that he wants to pursue.”

McCaw wasn’t immediately available for comment.

The decision to stay off AT&T;’s board may have been a function of Craig McCaw’s entrepreneurial ways, and AT&T;’s gray-suited corporate mentality. McCaw has seemed uneasy at public appearances with AT&T; officials since the merger was announced in August, 1993, analysts said.

“Obviously, Craig has differences in opinion as to the manner in which McCaw should be merged with AT&T; and the future direction of the companies,” said Daniel Briere, an analyst at TeleChoice, a Verona, N.J.-based market researcher.

McCaw had kind words for AT&T;, though. “Much to its credit, AT&T; is working exceedingly hard to develop a broad array of products and services that demystify and simplify the information superhighway for an increasingly broad group of customers,” McCaw said in a statement.

He said AT&T;’s efforts “make it difficult for me to make even minor contributions to the telecommunications industry and not be perceived to be technically in conflict with my duties as a director of AT&T.;”

AT&T;’s chairman, Robert Allen, said: “I understand Craig’s reasons and appreciate his concern and candor in addressing the potential for conflicts of interest in advance. We also appreciate his offer to be helpful.”

At least one analyst said McCaw may have wireless alternatives on his mind.

“McCaw may want to do something involving the (personal communications services) market,” said Alvin Mirman, an analyst at Gruntal & Co. “That would be a brilliant move on his part. He sold his company at top dollar. Maybe he could get a PCS license and start all over again.”

PCS is a new generation of wireless technology that will let users send voice, data and video over hand-held devices that resemble cellular phones but work on different frequencies.

The Federal Communications Commission plans to peddle that previously untapped spectrum at an auction in December. Analysts expect the government to raise more than $10 billion from the auction.