Combining the broadband licenses of Sprint Nextel and Clearwire will “ignite faster introduction of 2.5 GHz mobile WiMAX service and thus introduce additional new broadband competition across the country,” according to the Wireless Communications Association (WCA), which filed a petition with the FCC yesterday.

The filing is in support of the mega-deal between Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks announced in May.

“Prompt approval of the transaction will facilitate the commission’s efforts to introduce a wireless broadband pipe by advancing the core public interest objectives,” the WCA said.  Also, “the commission should not underestimate the extent to which the proposed transaction will spur the growth and development of smaller and mid-sized WiMAX operators,” it said.

All of the companies in the new Clearwire are members of the WCA except for Bright House.  “It was helpful to underscore the opportunities that are now becoming available in this band and others, thanks to regulatory advances.  Yesterday was the deadline for comments,” said WCA President Andrew Kreig.  “A big element is in proving to the marketplace that the services are genuinely better than the competition.”

However, the WCA is technology-neutral and also has members such as AT&T which support rival LTE technology for mobile broadband, he noted.