SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (Rule 13d-102) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b) (Amendment No. )(1) Arch Wireless, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Shares -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 039392600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [x] Rule 13d-1(b) [_] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) ---------- (1) The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 039392600 --------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [_] (b) [x] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 1,665,263 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,665,263 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,665,263 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 9.02% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA; OO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 039392600 --------------------- Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Arch Wireless, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 1800 West Park Drive Suite 250 Westbourough MA 01581 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. ("CCM") ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence: 411 West Putnam Avenue Suite 225 Greenwich, CT 06830 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(c). Citizenship: Delaware ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common shares ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 039392600 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a: (a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act. (b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act. (c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act. (d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act. (e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) [_] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act; (j) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,665,263 ------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Percent of class: 9.02% ------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 1,665,263 -------------, (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote -------------, (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the 1,665,263 disposition of -------------, (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of -------------. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. N/A ------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 10. Certifications. N/A SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. CONTRARIAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C. /s/ Jon R. Bauer ---------------- By: Jon R. Bauer Title: Managing Member Date: February 14, 2003 01385.0001 #385228