The Rural Cellular Association continued to bolster its lineup by adding wireless broadband provider Clearwire to its list of member carriers. Clearwire’s management has participated in numerous RCA events in the past.
Sprint Nextel, which has a significant stake in Clearwire, joined RCA in early 2011, and remains the trade organizations largest carrier member. Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility remain the only two significant wireless carriers that have not joined the organization.
The move appears to be a positive for both organizations. RCA gains yet another member to its growing base of carrier members that now numbers more than 100, while Clearwire gets another avenue in which to partner with rural carriers looking to provide mobile broadband services.
“The many issues facing our business, including competitive balance, the spectrum crisis and the rapidly growing consumer demand for mobile broadband all require the type of cooperation and solutions that Clearwire is well positioned to provide,” noted Don Stroberg, SVP of strategic partnerships and wholesale for Clearwire, in a statement. “We look forward to working with our fellow members and the RCA leadership on these and other key issues in the months and years ahead.”
It should also be noted that RCA initially opposed Clearwire’s founding in 2008, arguing that the consolidation of the 2.5 GHz assets controlled by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire would need to also include conditions for roaming, interoperability and an assurance of access to services by rural operators.
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