Congress headed toward Christmas break late Thurs. without passin...

settlement’s deadline for passage of legislation by Dec. 31, although what happens next is less clear. NextWave said “consumers will be best served by ending pending litigation and putting NextWave’s licenses into productive use as quickly as possible.” Company said it had continued to construct its wireless network during settlement proceedings “and we will be in a position to start providing service to the public in the new year.” Verizon Wireless CEO Denny Strigl said settlement, “which resolved the legal disputes surrounding the NextWave licenses,” expires Dec. 31 in absence of Hill action and agreement “could be implemented only with the endorsement of the Congress.” He said company appreciated work of Congress on issue and regretted that Congress couldn’t provide endorsement. “America’s wireless consumers will be denied the benefits the prompt use of the spectrum would have afforded them,” he said. Strigl didn’t indicate where company would go next on licenses. Under agreement, participants can walk away from settlement, and several industry observers turned attention to whether coalition of re-auction winners and govt. negotiators was likely to continue pressing for settlement in early part of next year. Fate of NextWave legislation became clearer early Thurs. when House Speaker Hastert (R-Ill.) told reporters that provisions implementing settlement weren’t part of measures that would be considered on basis of suspension of rules. “I think it’s probably dead,” Hastert reportedly said. “If it’s a good deal today, it will probably be a good deal next week.”