Clearwire CEO: FCC WiMAX approval would be "good policy"

“We are fully coordinating with Sprint,” Wolff said. “Both of us have a requirement that before we enter into a merger, we coordinate with one another on any matter that would impact our business. If we have this deal closed by the end of the year, it would clearly make sense for us to have everything from back-office preparation to branding and marketing on the same page. It makes sense for us to coordinate those efforts as much as we can.”

Wolff will remain CEO of Clearwire after the deal closes, while Sprint Xohm President Barry West will become president of the new Clearwire. Combined the company will have as much as 100 MHz of 2.5 GHz spectrum in many markets, giving Clearwire room to expand. What the company will need, however, is more funding. The $3.2-billion infusion will carry Clearwire into 2010, but before the network is complete, Clearwire will have to go after an additional $2 billion to $2.3 billion in funding. Clearwire doesn’t intend to go looking for new capital just yet, as its initial infusion from Google and company will keep it building for some time. “People say the debt markets are the worst we’ve ever seen,” Wolff said. “If we can find funding on terms we found acceptable, we would take it. Otherwise we can wait.”