UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

August 28, 2018

 

 

PCTEL, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

471 Brighton Drive

Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(630) 372-6800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

On August 28, 2018, PCTEL, Inc. (the “Company”) announced a strategic reorganization that is described under Item 7.01 of this Current Report.  

 

In connection with the reorganization, Rishi Bharadwaj will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective as of the date hereof. Mr. Bharadwaj, age 44, most recently served as PCTEL’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Connected Solutions segment. Previously, he led Connected Solutions sales, strategic development, and product management and the company’s patent licensing efforts, holding various leadership positions in Connected Solutions since 2003. Prior to PCTEL, between 1996 and 2003, Mr. Bharadwaj held several RF and software engineering roles, developing data collection and data analytics tools for the cellular industry at SAFCO Technologies, Inc. and then at Agilent Technologies, which acquired SAFCO. Mr. Bharadwaj holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, and Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He holds a patent for measuring data quality in wireless communication networks. In connection with his promotion, Mr. Bharadwaj will receive a salary increase to $315,000.

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Bharadwaj and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as Chief Operating Officer, no family relationships between him and any other directors or executive officers of the Company, and no related party transactions required to be disclosed between Mr. Bharadwaj and the Company.

Jeffrey A. Miller, the Senior Vice President & General Manager of the RF Solutions segment, is leaving the Company effective October 1, 2018. In connection with his departure, and in lieu of severance payments provided for in his Employment Agreement amended and restated on December 11, 2008, Mr. Miller entered into a Separation Agreement pursuant to which he will receive a lump sum payment of $140,000, equal to six months of his current base salary, less applicable withholding. The Company will accelerate the vesting of 44,000 restricted shares valued at $187,440, based on the closing sales price per share of $4.26 of the Company’s common stock as of August 27, 2018. Mr. Miller’s vested stock options will remain exercisable for a period of 90 days from his separation date. In addition, the Company will pay COBRA premiums of approximately $14,000 for 12 months of continued health coverage for Mr. Miller and his eligible dependents who received health coverage under the Company health care plans as of August 1, 2018. Mr. Miller has signed a release and waiver, and he has entered into certain non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, in exchange for the foregoing payments and benefits.  The foregoing description is subject to the terms and conditions of Mr. Miller’s Separation Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On August 28, 2018, the Company announced a strategic reorganization to drive company growth, consolidating its operations to address the convergence in the industrial Internet of Things (“IoT”), public safety and 4G infrastructure markets and the emergence of new technologies such as 5G (the “Reorganization”). As part of the Reorganization, the Company is consolidating its engineering, business development, sales and marketing, and operational general and administrative functions.  All of its accounting and finance, human resources, IT and legal functions already operate on a centralized basis. Instead of segment managers, the Chief Operating Officer will report to and maintain regular contact with the Chief Executive Officer, as the chief operating decision maker, to discuss operating activities, financial results, forecasts, and plans for the entire business.

Prior to the Reorganization, the Company operated and reported in two segments, Connected Solutions for the design and manufacture of precision antennas and related wireless products, and RF Solutions for test tools that improve the performance of wireless networks globally.  The Company will operate in one segment immediately and will report as one segment beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2018. The Company’s operating profit will be measured and managed at the corporate level. The balance sheet and cash flows were already managed centrally at the corporate level, with the exception of accounts receivable and inventory, and now those assets will also be managed at the corporate level.

 

A press release announcing the Reorganization is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.  

The information under Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 

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This Current Report contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, the statements regarding the impact of the Reorganization and the consolidation of the Company’s operations to a single operating and reporting entity are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations. Anticipated benefits may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the Company’s ability to leverage its engineering and other expertise across its product lines to address the changing wireless market, and the Company’s ability to facilitate faster growth through this consolidation of its operations. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the information contained in any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  August 29, 2018

 

 John W. Schoen, Chief Financial Officer

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

SePARATION aGREEMENT AND RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and Release (“Agreement”) is made by and between Jeffrey A. Miller of 1194 Falcon Ridge Drive, Elgin, Illinois 60124 (“Employee”) and PCTEL, Inc., a Delaware corporation, including its employees, directors, officers, shareholders, successors and assigns (“Company” or “PCTEL”). Employee and PCTEL may collectively sometimes be referred to as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, Employee and PCTEL have previously entered into the Jeffrey A. Miller Employment Agreement amended and restated on December 11, 2008 (“Employment Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, PCTEL and Employee have also previously entered into one or more restricted stock and stock option award agreements, subject to the terms and conditions of PCTEL’s Stock Plan, as amended and restated (the “Stock Plan”);

 

WHEREAS, Employee’s employment with PCTEL will end on October 1, 2018 (the “Separation Date”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to effect a final settlement of all claims and issues;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the execution hereof and the promises made herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.In lieu of the payment described in Section 7(a)(i) of the Employment Agreement, PCTEL agrees to pay Employee an amount equivalent to six months of Employee’s current base salary (One Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000)), less applicable withholding, as a lump sum on the Separation Date so long as five (5) business days have elapsed beyond the expiration of the revocation period for the release and waiver referred to in Section 15(f) below (the “Payment Date”).  

 

2.In lieu of the payment described in Section 7(a)(iii) of the Employment Agreement, PCTEL agrees to accelerate the vesting of an aggregate of 44,000 restricted shares of PCTEL common stock previously awarded to Employee, as follows:

(i) 5,000 from the grant identified as 4219, 14,000 from the grant identified as 4528, and 6,666 from the grant identified as 4596, all of which would have vested on February 11, 2019;

(ii) 5,000 from the grant identified as 4219, and 6,667 from the grant identified 4596, both of which would have vested on February 11, 2020; and

(iii) 6,667 from the grant identified 4596 which would have vested on February 11, 2021.  

All such restricted shares will vest on the Payment Date.

 

3.In addition, on the Separation Date the Employee may have vested options for PCTEL common stock (the “Options”) remaining from the grants identified as number 3655 and 3741.  In accordance with the Stock Plan, Employee has a period of ninety (90) days from the Separation Date within which to exercise the Options.

 

4.Employee’s health insurance benefits will cease as of October 31, 2018.  Subject to Employee’s right to continue health insurance under COBRA, should Employee elect COBRA within the required period, in lieu of the payment described in Section 7(a)(ii) of the Employment Agreement, PCTEL agrees to pay the entire cost of the COBRA premiums for a period of twelve (12) months for continued health coverage (i.e., medical, dental and vision as currently offered by Company) for Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents who received health care coverage under Company health care plans as of August 1, 2018.  Employee will be responsible for any and all COBRA payments thereafter.

 

5.On the next regular pay date following the Separation Date, Employee will be paid a lump sum (less applicable withholding) equivalent to earned but unused paid time off (PTO), if any, through the Separation Date.

 

6.On the next regular pay date following the Separation Date, Employee will receive a refund from the Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), if applicable.

 

7.Employee will receive all retirement benefits for which Employee is eligible, if any, in accordance with the applicable benefit plan documents. Employee will cease and no longer accrue employee benefits, including but not limited to PTO, as of the Separation Date, and Employee’s participation in all other benefits and incidents of employment shall cease on the Separation Date.  

 

 

Confidential

 

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8.Employee agrees that he will not take any action, or make any statement, whether orally or in writing (including through social media), which in any manner disparages or impugns the reputation or goodwill of PCTEL and that to do so will constitute a breach of this Agreement.  

 

9.Employee is to direct all requests for job references to PCTEL's Vice President, Corporate Resources and Chief Risk Officer, at 471 Brighton Drive, Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108, who will respond only to written reference inquiries with the following information: dates of employment, position held, and confirmation of last salary. To the extent that Employee directs reference requests to persons at PCTEL other than PCTEL's Vice President, Corporate Resources and Chief Risk Officer, PCTEL will not be liable for any statements made by such non-designated individuals regarding Employee.  Further, the Parties stipulate and agree that PCTEL has no liability for any statements made regarding Employee by persons not employed by PCTEL at the time such statements are made.  

 

10.Employee represents and warrants that he will return to PCTEL on the Separation Date all PCTEL equipment and/or other property, including but not limited to the following:

 

Laptop computer (#2294) and peripherals;

Disks, computer files, thumb or other drives;

Company information;

PCTEL apartment key;

AmEx Card (as defined below);

Employee identification badge; and

Other materials which he had in his possession or subject to his control relating to PCTEL and/or any of its customers, vendors and/or employees (“Materials”).  

 

Employee further warrants and acknowledges that he has not retained any such Materials (including any copies or duplicates thereof).  

 

11.Employee agrees to submit an expense report to PCTEL for all unpaid legitimate business expenses incurred in connection with his employment with PCTEL no later than October 31, 2018.  Further, Employee covenants and agrees to pay the entire outstanding balance of the American Express credit card received under PCTEL’s credit card program (“AmEx Card”) as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of payment from PCTEL of the legitimate expenses indicated on his expense report.  Employee acknowledges that the AmEx Card has been, or will soon be, cancelled and that he may no longer use it after the Separation Date.  Employee further acknowledges that pursuant to the terms of the AmEx Card, he has personal liability for all amounts now due and that become due on the AmEx Card.

 

12.Employee acknowledges that, during his employment, he may have become aware of trade secrets and other confidential, proprietary business information involving PCTEL or its customers. Employee further acknowledges that he is not to disclose any trade secrets, privileged or confidential information learned in the course of Employee's employment with PCTEL, and that pursuant to Section 10 above Employee is required to return to PCTEL any such trade secrets, privileged or confidential materials currently in his possession, whether in hard copy, or electronic format. If Employee has turned over such trade secret, privileged or confidential PCTEL information and/or documents, whether in hard copy or electronic format, to any third party, Employee is required, as a condition of this Agreement, to take all necessary efforts to retrieve such information and return it to PCTEL as well as to inform PCTEL's General Counsel of the identity of all such third parties so that PCTEL may take whatever action is necessary to retrieve its information.

 

13.In exchange for the payments and benefits set forth in this Agreement, Employee agrees to the following post-employment covenants:

(a)Non-Compete.  Employee acknowledges that the nature of the Company’s business is such that if Employee were to become employed by, or substantially involved in, a Restricted Business (as defined below) during the twelve (12) months following the Separation Date (the “Restricted Period”), it would be very difficult for Employee not to rely on or use the Company’s trade secrets and confidential information.  Thus, to avoid the inevitable disclosure of the Company’s trade secrets and confidential information, Employee agrees and acknowledges that Employee’s right to receive the payments and benefits set forth in this Agreement (to the extent Employee is otherwise entitled to such payments and benefits) shall be conditioned upon Employee not directly or indirectly engaging in (whether as an employee, consultant, agent, proprietor, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director or otherwise), nor having any ownership interest in or participating in the financing, operation, management or control of, any person, firm, corporation or business that is a Restricted Business; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 13(a) shall prevent Employee from owning as a passive investment less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of a publicly-held company if (A) such shares are

 

 

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actively traded on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market and (B) Employee is not otherwise associated with such company or any of its affiliates.  A “Restricted Business” is a business which is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, production, marketing, sale, licensing or servicing of any products, or the provision of any services, that are the same as or substantially similar to those of the Company, or a business which is otherwise one of the top competitors of the Company as listed on Exhibit A.  Upon any breach of this section, all severance payments and benefits pursuant to this Agreement shall immediately cease.  

(b)Non-Solicitation.  During the twelve (12) months following the Separation Date, Employee agrees and acknowledges that Employee’s right to receive the payments and benefits set forth in this Agreement shall be conditioned upon Employee not either directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, attempting to hire, recruiting, encouraging, taking away, hiring any employee of the Company or causing an employee to leave his or her employment either for Employee or for any other entity or person.

(c)Understanding of Covenants.  Employee represents that he (i) is familiar with the foregoing covenants not to compete and not to solicit, and (ii) is fully aware of his obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonableness of the length of time, scope and geographic coverage of these covenants.

(d)Notification of Subsequent Employer.  Employee agrees that during the one (1) year period following the Separation Date, he will give written notice to his new employers of his obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to this Section 13.  Further, during such period Employee agrees to promptly inform the Company, in writing, of the name and address of his subsequent employers.  Finally, Employee consents to the Company providing his subsequent employers with information, including a copy of this Agreement, regarding ongoing obligations under this Agreement.

 

The foregoing agreements are intended to supersede the obligations of Employee under paragraphs 5(g) and (h) of that certain Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement effective November 12, 2001 (“PIIA”).

 

14.In exchange for the foregoing benefits and payments, Employee, for himself, his heirs, executors and administrators will release and forever discharge PCTEL from any and all legally waivable claims, demands, sums of money, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, damages, costs, causes of action and liabilities of any kind or character whatsoever, from the beginning of time to the date Employee signs this Agreement, relating to his employment at PCTEL, including the termination of such employment, except insofar as it may be necessary to take action with respect to the enforcement of this Agreement or as specified in Section 15(d).  This release includes but is not limited to, all claims which could have been raised under any local, state or federal statute (including specifically under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) or any similar state statute, if applicable), ordinance, regulation and/or under any express or implied contract and/or under common law.

 

15.With respect to the foregoing release and waiver, Employee acknowledges the following:

 

(a)The foregoing release and waiver is entered into knowingly, voluntarily and with the opportunity for advice by Employee's personal attorney.

 

(b)The entitlements set forth in this Agreement are in lieu of those in Section 7(a) of the Employment Agreement to which he would otherwise be eligible to receive.

 

(c)Nothing contained in this Agreement purports to release any of Employee's rights or claims that may arise after the date of execution of this Agreement.

 

(d)Nothing contained in this Agreement prohibits Employee from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory authority, including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation.

 

(e)This Agreement shall not give rise to any legal rights or obligations with respect to any waiver of claims until Employee is afforded a period of forty-five (45) calendar days within which to consider the terms of this Agreement.

 

(f)Employee shall be afforded seven (7) calendar days following the execution of this Agreement within which Employee may revoke the Agreement insofar as it relates to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, if applicable, and none of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall become effective or enforceable with respect to any waiver of claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act until such revocation period has expired.  Any such revocation must be in writing, including email, and directed to Shelley J. Bacastow, Vice

 

 

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President and General Counsel, PCTEL, Inc., 471 Brighton Drive Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108.  Ms. Bacastow's email address is: shelley.bacastow@pctel.com and her telephone number is 630.339.2115.  Although such revocation must be in writing, Ms. Bacastow must also be informed by telephone of the revocation on or before the last day of the revocation period.

 

16.Employee acknowledges and agrees that if he breaches any of the terms of this Agreement, then PCTEL may (a) stop the payment of any benefits pursuant to this Agreement not yet paid; (b) seek recovery of any payments already made pursuant to this Agreement, and (c) seek the payment of all damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by PCTEL in connection with such suit, action or breach.

 

17.The Parties hereby stipulate and agree that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission of liability, culpability or wrongdoing by either Party.  

 

18.The Parties agree that this Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to choice of law or conflict of law principles.  The Parties further agree that any legal proceedings relating to this Agreement will be handled in accordance with paragraph 12(c) of the Employment Agreement (Arbitration and Equitable Relief); provided, however, if the provisions of such paragraph are disallowed, the Parties agree that any legal proceedings relating to this Agreement shall be instituted in federal or state court in Cook County, Illinois, and the Parties consent to the jurisdiction of such courts for such actions. The Parties agree to waive the right to a jury trial of any dispute or claim.    

 

19.Should any provision of this Agreement, in whole or in part, be held invalid or unenforceable by operation of law or otherwise, all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the Parties agree that a court may modify any provision to make it valid or enforceable in whole or in part.

 

20.In addition to the specific portions of the Employment Agreement and PIIA expressly superseded in various provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement is also intended to supersede the Amended and Restated Management Retention Agreement dated April 8, 2013 between the Parties.  It is not, however, intended to supersede the Indemnification Agreement dated November 19, 2009 between the Parties or the portions of the Employment Agreement and PIIA not expressly superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

PROHIBITED COMPANIES

 

 

The following are the entities referenced in section 13(c):

Airgain Inc.

Epiq Solutions

Laird Technologies

Mobile Mark, Inc.

Panorama Antennas Ltd.

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG

Venture Corporation Limited

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

PCTEL Announces Reorganization to Advance Growth Strategy

Rishi Bharadwaj to Lead Companywide Operations as COO

BLOOMINGDALE, Illinois – August 28, 2018 -- PCTEL, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCTI), a leader in Performance Critical TELecom solutions, announced a strategic reorganization to drive company growth, consolidating its operations to address the convergence in the industrial IoT, public safety and 4G infrastructure markets and the emergence of new technologies such as 5G. Rishi Bharadwaj will serve as Chief Operating Officer for the company, while Arnt Arvik will lead business development and sales as Chief Sales Officer. The reorganization is effective immediately.

Prior to the reorganization, the company operated in two segments, Connected Solutions for the design and manufacture of antennas and related wireless products, and RF Solutions for test and measurement tools that improve the performance of wireless networks globally. The Company will operate in one entity immediately and will report as one entity beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2018.

“In recent years, we’ve found that many of the same customers need performance critical antennas, radio systems, and test and measurement tools to verify wireless networks. This reorganization will facilitate faster growth in key vertical markets such as wide area industrial IoT, public safety, rail, and transit,” said David Neumann, the company’s CEO. “Rishi and Arnt are both forward-thinking leaders with a deep understanding of our markets and technology.”

“PCTEL’s breadth and depth of RF expertise is unique in the industry,” said Rishi Bharadwaj, PCTEL’s COO. “Our combined organization will be able to leverage our expertise in radio frequency engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, product quality and testing, and wireless network engineering to solve complex problems for the world’s leading network providers, integrators, and equipment manufacturers.”

Rishi Bharadwaj most recently served as PCTEL’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Connected Solutions segment. Previously, he led Connected Solutions sales, strategic development, and product management and the company’s patent licensing efforts. Prior to PCTEL, Rishi held several RF and software engineering roles, developing data collection and data analytics tools for the cellular industry at SAFCO Technologies, Inc. and then at Agilent Technologies, which acquired SAFCO. Rishi holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, and Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He holds a patent for measuring data quality in wireless communication networks.

Arnt Arvik most recently served as Vice President of Global Sales for the company’s test and measurement tool product line. He joined PCTEL in 2016 as Vice President of Americas Sales and Engineering Services for RF Solutions. Prior to joining PCTEL, Mr. Arvik was Vice President of Americas Sales and Operations and head of

 

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Global Supply for Ascom Network Testing. He also spent nine years with Ericsson Inc. as Director of Business Development for the TEMS product line in the Americas.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, the statements regarding the impact of the strategic reorganization of the company and the consolidation of its operations to a single operating and reporting entity are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor. These statements are based on PCTEL's current expectations. Anticipated benefits may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the company’s ability to leverage its engineering and other expertise across its product lines to address the changing wireless market, and the company’s ability to facilitate faster growth through this consolidation of its operations. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in PCTEL's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and PCTEL disclaims any obligation to update or revise the information contained in any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About PCTEL

PCTEL, Inc. provides Performance Critical TELecom technology solutions. We are a leading global supplier of antennas and wireless network testing solutions. Our precision antennas are deployed in small cells, enterprise Wi-Fi access points, fleet management and transit systems, and in equipment and devices for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). We offer in-house design, testing, radio integration, and manufacturing capabilities for our customers. PCTEL’s test and measurement tools improve the performance of wireless networks globally, with a focus on LTE, public safety, and emerging 5G technologies. Network operators, neutral hosts, and equipment manufacturers rely on our scanning receivers and testing solutions to analyze, design, and optimize their networks.

 

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.pctel.com/.

 

 

For further information contact:

 

Michael Rosenberg

Director of Marketing

PCTEL, Inc.

(301) 444-2046

public.relations@pctel.com