FCC to Return Deposit to NextWave

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve an order, possibly by Friday, to return most of the $3.2-billion down payment made by mobile telephone companies in bidding for NextWave wireless licenses, sources familiar with the situation said.

The 13 carriers, including Verizon Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless and partners of AT&T; Wireless Services and Cingular Wireless, bid $15.85 billion for the licenses a year ago. The sale was left hanging after an appeals court ruled the airwaves belonged to bankrupt NextWave Telecom Inc.