Just some clarifications....

All of Clearwire's commercial networks thus far have been based on a fixed 'pre-WiMAX' OFDM technology that they've deployed in many areas across the US (http://www.clearwire.com/store/service_areas.php).... but the Baltimore area is not one of them.

Clearwire has started building true WiMAX networks (802.16e, the 'mobile' variety) and is close to bringing at least one or two of those into commercial service soon.

What *is* in Baltimore is Xohm's 802.16e network. Xohm, of course, is Sprint's WiMAX unit that is slated to be combined with Clearwire if/when the New Cleawire deal is consummated.

The article's point- drawing a line between the FCC's recent whitespace ruling and the new Cleawire- is interesting. Any successful 3.5G/4G deployment needs to address the issue of backhaul and in the US, particularly in the rural US, cost-effective backhaul is a huge challenge.

It just so happens that a few years ago Motorola acquired a UK company, Orthogon that specializes in.....wait for it....smartish point-to-point backhaul radios that can operate in licensed or unlicensed spectrum bands. The whitespace ruling might open a new swath of bandwidth that could help solve the next-gen backhaul bandwith problem. Motorola certainly won't be alone in hawking point-to-point radios but it does provided a cross-selling opportunity as they sell both the point-to-point radios and WiMAX kit.

The Commission's approving widepread use of spectrum temporarily or locally unoccupied has probably halted TV broadcast expansion in the United States. One need not expect FCC assistance in relief from interference; just look at its cheerleader attitude to BPL (PLT).