May 4, 1981 (Monday)
- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it had set aside the 40 MHz range of the radio spectrum for future use by cellular telephone systems, with each market to received two equal blocks, one of which would be granted to the local telephone service provider, and the other to the highest bidder. The number of available channels for communication had been 44 since 1946, and was increased to 666 by the ruling.
- Born: Jacques Rudolph, South African cricketer, in Springs
- Died: Paul Green, 87, American playwright
Read more about this topic: May 1981