Sprint, Clearwire to finally get hitched thanks to FCC approval

We're relieved, here's why: we don't have to report on this on-again / off-again relationship like we're a celebrity tabloid rag anymore. Around the same time it gave the thumbs up to Verizon and Alltel, the FCC also decided that timultuous lovebirds Sprint and Clearwire can finally get hitched. Their eventual offspring will be the WiMAX network they've been promising with a bunch of other partners -- the plan is to offer wireless broadband to 140 million people within 30 months' time, so today's a big day for WiMAX and corporate romantics everywhere.

[Hackettman @ Nov 5th 2008 3:40PM]

"eventual offspring" = years?

[kjb434 @ Nov 5th 2008 3:43PM]

If Sprint can successfully pull this off, they will begin to gain customers in the business market (where the real money is made).

Verizon and ATT have been eating this up as they improve their networks. WiMax will give one more choice on high speed wireless data and hopefully provide some additional competition to ATT.

[grull27 @ Nov 5th 2008 3:44PM]

I wish it didn't require the FCC's approval for everything. Or at least have the FCC approve or disapprove of things much faster.

[Tdburn @ Nov 5th 2008 3:46PM]

Gov't at work, it messes with everything and is always going to be slow!

[James @ Nov 5th 2008 5:08PM]

Yeah lets deregulate everything its not like theyre trying to keep business practices fair and the public safe. Lets throw out the FDA while were at it

[Mycroft @ Nov 5th 2008 6:09PM]

@James

We should abolish the FDA, and the FCC and numerous other federal agencies as there is no provision in the constitution for their existence. A constitution outlining a government of limited, enumerated powers has been rendered into a bloated, corrupt, power-mad government operating under the assumption that there is no aspect of you life, private of public, that the power elite cannot or should not control.

Do not fool yourself into believing any governement is motivated by a desire to keep you safe. They are motivated strickly by a desire to control you. Just be grateful our government is as incompetent and inefficient as it is - if they were any better at governing, we would already be taking our daily soma tablets and drifting off into a happy delirium.

I do not expect you to agree with me. Just realize there may be another way - a way that offers more freedom, and safer products, with less government. If you are open-minded and willing learn about it, read a little Milton Freidman.

[KAIKAI @ Nov 5th 2008 6:29PM]

mycroft
nice
brave new world relations lol

[Scott @ Nov 6th 2008 3:12AM]

@Mycroft

I see you've been talking to Andrew Ryan.

[Valicore @ Nov 5th 2008 3:54PM]

Woo hoo, now let's have a decent product before the end of the decade, please.

[Chace @ Nov 5th 2008 4:07PM]

Nice.....now can you please extend your XOHM network to my neighborhood in baltimore so i can get rid of this dsl crap.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 5th 2008 4:26PM]

At least this time you did not spy on them Engadget..

[digitallysick @ Nov 5th 2008 6:52PM]

Its too bad clearwire sucks, google "clear wire sucks"

[sim @ Nov 5th 2008 9:03PM]

Man I can't wait...to wait...to wait another 3 or 4 years to use this, it's gonna be great!

[Justin @ Nov 5th 2008 10:53PM]

This is FUCKING awesome!! Welcome to the future, gentlemen. So, who's going to be next to develop this technology? I say, and hope, ATT.

[Dead_Rebel @ Nov 6th 2008 8:44AM]

Fail.

[cb88 @ Nov 6th 2008 1:33PM]

while the FCC is a slow pain in the butt ... if it wasn't for the FCC we would't have reliable TV transmission to begin with nor accurate radar and your TV might be spewing more radiation than a microwave...

and yes there are real concerns for clearwire (internet via powerline) such as interference with HAM radio which is the nations failsafe communication network in case of disaster you shoot those guys (the HAMs) in the foot and it may well come back to bite you

the reason interferance was a concern is due the the antenna like properties of the powerlines basically making communication by HAMs quite difficult

I wonder if they have considered useing the "whitespace" frequencies for the transmission? since there shouldn't be as much interference as there would be with the long range HAM radios

[wimaxed @ Nov 7th 2008 12:11AM]

Great to hear FCC approved the deal. Clearwire and Sprint have been working on this for some time and at some point in time they dropped the deal but I'm glad to hear WiMAX will finally go nation wide.

--- http://www.WiMAXED.com