Craig’s notes
I opened this tape without knowing what “3rd Mobile” was supposed to be. A phone network? Pagers? Then Don Rabbit got to the point: he wanted people to put money into a Memphis wireless partnership. He brought up Hillary Rodham Clinton’s cellular investment, explained the value of owning licenses and, just when I was deciding what to make of him, introduced Digi-Digital. I had to back up to watch Don’s reaction to Digi again. If Digi thinks it’s a good idea, who am I to argue?
There’s an equipment-room visit in Minneapolis and a lesson on how many voices digital compression could fit on one channel. Then the tape imagines a microwave diagnosing its own faulty part and a repairman arriving in 41 minutes. I wasn’t buying that part, even while watching it. By the end, Don is offering a piece of the future and telling us radio waves will be like gold. I wanted the printed materials. I actually thought this was one of the better tapes we’d watched.
On this tape
- Don Rabbit introduces an equity partnership to upgrade a Memphis specialized mobile radio (SMR) network. He cites cellular subscriber estimates and the claimed value of territorial licenses.
- Don cites Hillary Rodham Clinton’s earlier cellular investment and says her partnership interest could have been worth more if she had kept it.
- Animated mascot Digi-Digital joins Don to endorse the digital upgrade.
- Consultant Kim Brighton describes a Minneapolis-St. Paul analog radio system, its equipment and a proposed digital upgrade.
- “The digital breakthrough by Digi Digital” explains analog channels, digital voice compression and the video’s projected channel capacity.
- Future-service skit: a microwave fault is diagnosed remotely and a technician is dispatched for a claimed repair in 41 minutes.
- Don closes with the general-partnership offer, mentions its risks and promises that participants could “own a piece of the future.” The closing voiceover says “Radio waves will be like gold.” End credits follow.
About the program
Memphis 3rd Mobile: Your Digital Future is an SMR Digital Communications / DCI investment presentation. The packaging credits Paul Greenberg and Scott Lane as producers and directors, and Man Made Productions. Don says “here we are in 1993” in the presentation; no release date is printed.
Watched through the credits May 26, 2026. Watch the digitized tape.
