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Nonprofits Get Injunction, Partially Halt Sprint WiMax Shutdown

Earlier this month we noted how a number of non-profits had sued Sprint over the shutdown of the company's WiMax network, which is formally expected to happen tomorrow. According to the suit, the nonprofits struck a 30 year agreement with Clearwire in 2006, exchanging some of the spectrum they owned for discounted network access. This discounted service was in turn being provided to 429 schools, 61 libraries, and 1820 nonprofits feeding low-cost broadband to an estimated 300,000 low-income Americans.

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But after acquiring Clearwire the groups say Sprint balked at the deal, and haven't been open to striking a similar arrangement, despite the fact Sprint is now refarming this same spectrum for LTE.

Today the groups were granted a preliminary injunction (pdf) by a a Massachusetts state court. The emergency relief orders Sprint to maintain the WiMax network in certain areas for 90 days to allow Mobile Beacon and Mobile Citizen time to migrate their users to Sprint’s LTE network.

“Today, the courts preserved a lifeline for the communities and families we serve,” said Katherine Messier, managing director of Mobile Beacon. “We hope Sprint will now work with us to ensure the elderly, disabled, students and other vulnerable populations who rely on our service can transition to LTE quickly and avoid any disruption in service.”

Most Clearwire customers left the WiMax network long ago, given that Sprint has been warning about tomorrow's shutdown since early 2014.

Most recommended from 19 comments



C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium Member
join:2001-10-03
Tempe, AZ

2 recommendations

C0deZer0

Premium Member

Incoming Karma

Sprint was all too happy to make this bed. It's time for them to lay in it, and serve these nonprofits for what they're due in service. And if they have no desire to serve them, remit the remaining times' worth in service back to them.

That'll make that Bolivano prick (Marcelo Claure, CEO of Sprint) pay attention. No golden parachute for you.