FCC Approves Sprint-Nextel/Clearwire Merger

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to approve, with conditions, the transfer of control of licenses held Sprint-Nextel Corporation and Clearwire to New Clearwire Corporation. The merger is expected to facilitate the build-out of
a nationwide WiMAX-based network that will lead to increased competition, greater consumer choice and new, innovative wireless services.


The FCC concluded that the merger will be in the public interest with no competitive harm identified in any market.


The Commission conditioned its approval of this transaction on Sprint Nextel's compliance with a voluntary commitment to phase out its requests for federal high-cost universal service support over a five-year transition period and with a voluntary commitment to use counties for measuring compliance with the Commission's wireless E911 location accuracy rules
governing handset-based technologies.


The licenses, leases, and authorizations transferred in this transaction include BRS, Educational Broadband Service, Point-to-Point Microwave, and Local Multipoint Distribution Service.http://www.fcc.gov