[US Congress adjourns without passing legislation needed to implement wireless spectrum settlement.]

by Peter Spiegel, Washington; Richard Waters, San Francisco -- "A $16bn deal that would have released much-needed new wireless spectrum to the largest US mobile phone companies fell through on Thursday, potentially hampering the development of new wireless data services.

"The collapse followed the US Congress's failure to pass legislation needed to implement the complex settlement before it adjourned for the year on Thursday. Verizon Wireless, the biggest US wireless carrier, effectively declared the deal dead and said it would look for other ways to acquire new spectrum.

"Verizon Wireless had agreed to pay more than $8bn for the extra capacity and the failure to complete the deal could prompt it to buy other wireless companies instead, analysts said.

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