FCC Votes: Sprint-Clearwire, Alltel-Verizon and white spaces rules pass

Sprint and Clearwire were eagerly waiting the Commission’s decision on their WiMAX venture, which, now approved, goes to Clearwire’s shareholders for a vote. Once approved, it will trigger a $3.2-billion capital investment from Google, Intel and cable partners—money Clearwire needs to begin its nationwide WiMAX rollout—as well give Clearwire access to Sprint’s mammoth stores of 2.5 GHz spectrum and its cell-tower and transport assets.

The deal, valued at $14.6 billion, could create a nationwide mobile broadband network, which would not only compete against the established wireless operators—Sprint among them—but also DSL and cable operators. Sprint has already begun to launch its portion of the network, starting in Baltimore under the name Xohm. While Clearwire has launched a friendly customer trial over a live WiMAX network in Portland, Ore. The two companies have said they will roll out an additional combined five markets by year end: Washington, D.C., and Chicago under the Xohm name and Las Vegas, Atlanta and Grand Rapids under Clearwire.