Rumors persisted this week that NextWave settlement agreement sti...
Rumors persisted this week that NextWave settlement agreement still was possible, although it now was expected that FCC wouldn’t take lead role in crafting proposal. Potential agreement is being discussed by some NextWave investors and group of re-auction winners…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
that have designated entity status, industry source said. Sources said any industry-only discussions now under way were without participation of Verizon Wireless, largest re-auction winner. Attention has turned to possibility of talks involving other winners that have designated entity status, which would make possible transfer of licenses by NextWave, which is designated entity. However, another industry source said private transaction of that nature still would face regulatory challenges because license-holder such as NextWave must meet certain build-out and other requirements before it’s free to sell licenses without restrictions. “People are trying to hold this thing together,” analyst said. Meanwhile, meeting of FCC, NextWave and winning re-auction bidders scheduled for Tues. morning was cancelled, source said. Companies that won NextWave licenses in re-auction last Jan. asked FCC last week to refund $3.1 billion in down payments that agency had been holding without interest since Feb. Re-auction winners include Verizon Wireless, Salmon PCS, which has financial backing of Cingular Wireless, and Alaska Native Wireless, backed by AT&T Wireless. Leap Wireless spokeswoman wouldn’t comment on whether carrier was part of continued talks with NextWave but said carrier still hoped for settlement.