NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS INC / DE
8-K, 1999-04-01
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
Previous: AUTOBOND ACCEPTANCE CORP, NT 10-K, 1999-04-01
Next: NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS INC / DE, 424B3, 1999-04-01



<PAGE>


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 1999




                          NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


Delaware                             000-22939                   91-1738221
(State or other                   (Commission File             (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                        Number)               Identification No.)
incorporation)



500 108th Avenue NE, Suite 2200, Bellevue, Washington                      98004
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  425-519-8900



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed from last report)



<PAGE>




Item 5.  Other Events.

         On March 31, 1999, NEXTLINK entered into a definitive agreement with a
subsidiary of Nextel Communications to acquire the 50% interest in NEXTBAND
Communications. that NEXTLINK doesn't already own. NEXTBAND holds 42 local
multipoint distribution service (LMDS) licenses, covering areas where 105
million people live or work. As previously reported, NEXTLINK has also agreed to
acquire WNP Communications, the largest holder of LMDS licenses.

         NEXTLINK will pay $137.7 million in the NEXTBAND transaction,
consisting of at least $68,850,000 in cash, with the remainder payable at the
NEXTLINK's election in cash or shares of its Class A Common Stock. If NEXTLINK
issues shares for its own account as part of an underwritten offering of any
shares it elects to issue in the WNP merger, the minimum cash consideration
payable in the NEXTBAND transaction will increase by an amount equal to 25% of
the net proceeds NEXTLINK receives in the offering. Nextel will have demand and
piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares it receives.

         The NEXTBAND transaction is subject to several conditions, most
importantly (i) expiration or early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act
waiting period and (ii) FCC final approval and (iii) completion of the offering
of shares issued in the WNP merger, unless that offering is not completed by
July 1, 1999 or NEXTLINK notifies Nextel that the offering isn not likely to be
completed by that date.

         This summary is qualified in its entirety by the actual terms of the
relevant agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and
10.2 and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (a) - (b)  None.

         (c)  Exhibits.

         10.1     NEXTBAND Interests Purchase Agreement, dated March 31, 1999,
                  between Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp. and NEXTLINK
                  Communications, Inc.

         10.2     Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 31, 1999, between
                  Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp. and NEXTLINK Communications,
                  Inc.



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                        NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.



                                        By: /s/ R. Bruce Easter, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Name:  R. Bruce Easter, Jr.
                                            Title:  Vice President


April 1, 1999




<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                      NEXTBAND INTERESTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     This NEXTBAND  Interests  Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of March 31, 1999 between Nextel Spectrum  Acquisition  Corp., a
Delaware  corporation  ("NSAC")  and NEXTLINK  Communications,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Purchaser").

W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, NSAC wishes to sell, and Purchaser wishes to purchase,  subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, NSAC's interests in NEXTBAND
Communications, L.L.C.;

     WHEREAS,  the NSAC and Purchaser intend to enter into a Registration Rights
Agreement in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit A (the  "Registration  Rights
Agreement", and together with this Agreement, the "Agreements"); and

     WHEREAS, NSAC and Purchaser desire to make certain agreements in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby.

     NOW,   THEREFORE,   in   consideration   of   the   premises   and  of  the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                         PURCHASE AND SALE OF INTERESTS

     1.1. AUTHORIZATION OF SALE. NSAC has authorized the sale to Purchaser,  and
Purchaser has  authorized  the purchase  from NSAC, of all of NSAC's  membership
interest (the  "Interests") in NEXTBAND Communications, L.L.C, a Washington
limited  liability company  ("NEXTBAND"),  which  constitute  50%  of  the
outstanding  membership interests.

     1.2.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF INTERESTS.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
set  forth  in this  Agreement  and in  reliance  upon  NSAC's  and  Purchaser's
representations  set forth below,  on the Closing  Date (as defined  below) NSAC
shall sell to Purchaser,  and Purchaser  shall purchase from NSAC, the Interests
for (i) $68,850,000 in cash plus an amount equal to 25% of the net proceeds (the
"25%  Offering  Proceeds"),  if  any,  received  by  Purchaser  in  the  initial
underwritten   offering   conducted  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  that  certain
Registration  Rights  Agreement  (the "WNP RRA")  between  Purchaser and certain
stockholders  of WNP  Communications,  Inc.,  dated  January  14, 1999 (the "WNP
Initial  Offering")  (the  "Monetary  Purchase  Price") plus (ii) an  additional
$68,850,000  less  the  25%  Offering  Proceeds,  if  any,  to  be  payable,  at
Purchaser's  election,  either in (A) cash,  (B) shares of  Purchaser's  Class A
Common Stock,  par value $.02 per share  ("Purchaser  Common  Stock") or (C) any
combination  of cash and  shares  of  Purchaser  Common  Stock  (the  "Remaining
Purchase  Price").  Such sale and purchase

<PAGE>

shall be effected on the Closing Date by NSAC executing and delivering to
Purchaser an Assignment of Interests in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B
against payment or delivery as appropriate, by Purchaser to NSAC of the Monetary
Purchase Price and the Remaining Purchase Price. Purchaser shall pay the
Monetary Purchase Price and such portion of the Remaining Purchase Price that
Purchaser elects to pay in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to such account as NSAC shall designate, with such designation to occur not less
than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Purchaser shall deliver
shares of Purchaser Common Stock to NSAC having a value (determined as provided
in the next sentence) equal to the balance, if any, of the Remaining Purchase
Price not paid in cash. Each share of Purchaser Common Stock so delivered shall
be deemed to have a value equal to its Volume-Weighted Average Trading Price (as
defined below) for the twenty trading days preceding (but not including) the
Closing Date hereunder (with appropriate adjustments for any stock splits, stock
dividends or the like that may occur during such period).

     1.3.  CLOSING.  The closing of the purchase and sale of the Interests  (the
"Closing")  shall be scheduled  for a date no later than the fifth  Business Day
following the date on which all the conditions contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2(d)
and 5.3(e) shall have been  satisfied  or waived.  The date on which the Closing
occurs  is  herein  referred  to as the  "Closing  Date" On the day prior to the
Closing Date,  unless  Purchaser has  delivered to NSAC an  irrevocable  written
election to pay the entire Remaining Purchase Price in cash,  Purchaser and NSAC
shall  execute the  Registration  Rights  Agreement.  If on the Closing Date any
other  condition to the Closing has not been satisfied or waived by the party or
parties entitled to the benefit of the same, any party (other than a party whose
failure to perform its  obligations  under this Agreement is responsible for the
failure of such conditions) shall have the right to terminate this Agreement.

     1.4.  DEFINITION.  "Volume-Weighted  Average Trading Price" means,  for any
period,  (i) the  average of the daily  prices for each  trading day during such
period,  with each daily  price  computed  as the  product of (x) the sale price
times (y) the number of shares of  Purchaser  Common  Stock sold at such  price,
divided by (ii) the total number of shares of  Purchaser  Common Stock so traded
during such trading day, all as reported by Bloomberg, L.P.



                                   ARTICLE II.

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NSAC

     NSAC represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:

     2.1. ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING.  NSAC is a corporation duly organized,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware
and has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to own,  lease and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. NSAC is duly
qualified or licensed and in good  standing to do business in each  jurisdiction
in which the  character of the property  owned,  leased or operated by it or the
nature of the  business  conducted by it makes such  qualification  or licensing
necessary,  except where the failure so to be duly  qualified or licensed and in
good standing

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect
on (i) the business, assets, condition (financial or other), prospects or
results of operations of NEXTBAND or (ii) the Interests (an "NSAC Material
Adverse Effect"). NSAC has heretofore made available to Purchaser accurate and
complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as currently in
effect, of NSAC. Unrestricted Subsidiary Funding Company, a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nextel Communications, Inc., is the sole
stockholder of NSAC.

     2.2.  AUTHORIZATION; BINDING  AGREEMENT. NSAC has all requisite  corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this  Agreement and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including,   without  limitation,  the  due
authorization and approval for sale of the Interests to Purchaser. The execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  have  been  duly and  validly  authorized  by the Board of
Directors of NSAC,  and no other  corporate  proceedings on the part of NSAC are
necessary  to  authorize  the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement or to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by NSAC and constitutes the legal,  valid and
binding agreement of NSAC enforceable against NASC in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that  enforceability  thereof may be limited by  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization  or other  similar laws  affecting  the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by principles of equity regarding
the availability of remedies ("Enforceability Exceptions").

     2.3. GOVERNMENTAL  APPROVALS.  To the best of NSAC's knowledge, no consent,
approval,  waiver or authorization of, Consent"), any government,  any political
subdivision,  any  governmental  or regulatory  authority,  agency,  department,
board,  commission,  administration or instrumentality  or any court,  tribunal,
arbitrator or  self-regulatory  organization  ("Governmental  Authority") on the
part of NSAC is required in connection with the execution or delivery by NSAC of
this  Agreement or the  consummation  by NSAC of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby  other than (i) FCC  approval of the LMDS  license  transfer  application
contemplated  hereby and (ii)  expiration  or early  termination  of the waiting
period  under  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of 1976 (the
"H-S-R Act").

     2.4. NO  VIOLATIONS.  The  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance by NSAC with
any of the provisions  hereof will not (i) conflict with or result in any breach
of any  provision  of its  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  or  other
governing  instruments, (ii) require any Consent under or result in a violation
or breach of, or constitute  (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under,  or permit  the  acceleration  of rights  under or  termination  of,  any
indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, credit agreement, note or other evidence of
indebtedness,  or other material agreement of NSAC, (iii) result in the creation
or imposition of any lien or  encumbrance  of any kind upon any of NSAC's assets
or (iv) subject to obtaining the consents from Governmental Authorities referred
to in Section 2.3 hereof, contravene any Law to which NSAC or any of its assets
or properties are

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

subject, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), above, for any
deviations from the foregoing which would not be reasonably likely to have an
NSAC Material Adverse Effect.

     2.5. CONDUCT OF NSAC. NSAC has taken no actions which (i) to its knowledge,
have adversely affected or (ii) reasonably could be expected to adversely affect
NEXTBAND,  the LMDS licenses owned by NEXTBAND, or the Interests.  NSAC owns and
will convey valid title to the Interests  free and clear of all liens and rights
of others  (excluding  those of or arising  under or through any other member of
NEXTBAND) and has not, in its capacity as a member of NEXTBAND,  caused NEXTBAND
to enter into any binding  agreements or arrangements with third parties without
the knowledge of the Purchaser.

     2.6.  LITIGATION.  There is no suit,  action or  proceeding  pending or, to
NSAC's knowledge,  threatened  against NSAC, nor is there any judgment,  decree,
injunction,  rule or order of any  Governmental  Authority  outstanding  against
NSAC.

     2.7. FINDERS AND INVESTMENT  BANKERS.  Neither NSAC nor any of its officers
or  directors  has  employed  any  broker or finder or  otherwise  incurred  any
liability for any  brokerage  fees,  commissions  or finders' fees in connection
with the transactions  contemplated hereby for which the Purchaser or any of its
stockholders would be liable.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

     3.1.  ORGANIZATION  AND GOOD  STANDING.  Purchaser  is a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to own, lease and
operate its  properties  and to carry on its  business  as now being  conducted.
Purchaser is duly  qualified or licensed and in good  standing to do business in
each  jurisdiction  in which the  character  of the  property  owned,  leased or
operated  by it or the  nature  of  the  business  conducted  by it  makes  such
qualification  or  licensing  necessary,  except where the failure so to be duly
qualified or licensed and in good  standing  would not be  reasonably  likely to
have a material adverse effect on the business,  assets, condition (financial or
other),  prospects or results of operations  of Purchaser  and its  subsidiaries
taken  as a  whole  (a  "Purchaser  Material  Adverse  Effect").  Purchaser  has
heretofore   made  available  to  NSAC  accurate  and  complete  copies  of  the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as currently in effect, of Purchaser.

     3.2.  AUTHORIZATION;   BINDING  AGREEMENT.   Purchaser  has  all  requisite
corporate  power and  authority  to execute and deliver  this  Agreement  and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including,  without limitation,
the due  authorization  and  approval  for  issuance of  Purchaser  Common Stock
issuable at the Closing,  if any. The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, but not
limited to, the purchase of the Interests, have been duly and validly authorized
by the Board of Directors of Purchaser and no other corporate proceedings on the
part of Purchaser  are

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes
the legal, valid and binding agreements of Purchaser, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

     3.3.  GOVERNMENTAL  APPROVALS.  No  Consent  from or with any  Governmental
Authority on the part of Purchaser is required in connection  with the execution
or delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement or the  consummation  by Purchaser of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  other than as set forth in Section 2.3.
Purchaser  or a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Purchaser  holds a 50%  membership
interest  in  NEXTBAND  and  Purchaser  has no reason to believe  that it is not
qualified to hold the Interests.  Purchaser (i) is not a foreign person or under
the control of a foreign person,  (ii) is not, is not controlled by and does not
control  any  incumbent  local  exchange  carrier,  and  (iii)  is  not,  is not
controlled by and does not control any CATV system in any market  covered by the
LMDS Licenses (as all such terms are used in the  Communications Act of 1996 and
the LMDS  Rules) and as of the date  hereof is not aware of any reason why it is
not qualified to hold the Interests under the LMDS Rules.

     3.4. NO  VIOLATIONS.  The  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance by Purchaser
with any of the provisions  hereof will not (i) conflict  with or result in any
breach of any provision of the Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws or other
governing instruments of Purchaser, (ii) require any Consent under or result in
a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time
or both) a default (or give rise to any right of  termination,  cancellation  or
acceleration)  under, or permit the  acceleration of rights under or termination
of, any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  credit  agreement,  note or other
evidence of indebtedness, or other material agreement of Purchaser, (iii) result
in the creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance of any kind upon any of
the  assets  of Purchaser or (iv) subject  to  obtaining  the  Consents  from
Governmental  Authorities referred to in Section 2.3 hereof, contravene any Law
to which  Purchaser or any of its assets or properties are subject,  except,  in
the case of clauses (ii),  (iii) and (iv) above,  for any  deviations  from the
foregoing  which would not be  reasonably  likely to have a  Purchaser  Material
Adverse Effect.

     3.5.  SECURITIES  FILINGS.  Purchaser  has made  available to NSAC true and
complete  copies of (i) its Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K  for the year  ended
December  31,  1998,  as filed  with the SEC,  together  with all  Exhibits  and
Schedules  thereto, (ii) its proxy  statement  relating  to the meeting of its
stockholders held on May 20, 1998, as filed with the SEC, and (iii) all other
reports,   statements  and  registration   statements  and  amendments   thereto
(including,  without  limitation,  Quarterly  Reports on  Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on Form 8-K,  as amended)  filed by Purchaser with the SEC since January
1, 1998,  together  with all Exhibits  and  Schedules  thereto.  The reports and
statements  specified  in  clauses (i) through (iii) above are  referred  to
collectively herein as the "Purchaser Securities Filings" As of their respective
dates, or as of the date of the last amendment thereof, if amended after filing,
none of the Purchaser  Securities  Filings  contained any untrue  statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated  therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     3.6. PURCHASER FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  The audited  consolidated  financial
statements and unaudited interim financial  statements of Purchaser  included in
the Purchaser  Securities  Filings (the "Purchaser  Financial  Statements") have
been  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
applied on a  consistent  basis  (except as may be  indicated  therein or in the
notes  thereto) and present  fairly,  in all material  respects,  the  financial
position  of  Purchaser  and its  subsidiaries  as at the dates  thereof and the
results of their  operations  and cash flows for the periods then ended subject,
in the case of the unaudited  interim financial  statements,  to normal year-end
audit  adjustments,  any other  adjustments  described therein and the fact that
certain  information and notes have been condensed or omitted in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

     3.7. CAPITALIZATION. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of
Purchaser consists of 110,334,000  shares of Purchaser Common Stock,  44,133,600
shares of Class B Common Stock,  par value $.02 per share and 25,000,000  shares
of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share ("Purchaser  Preferred Stock").  As
of December  31, 1998,  (a)  24,154,938  shares of  Purchaser  Common Stock were
issued  and  outstanding, (b) 30,523,242  shares of Class B Common  Stock  were
issued and outstanding, (c) 11,254,623 shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding  and (d) no shares of Purchaser  Common Stock were issued
and held in the treasury of Purchaser.  As of the date hereof,  no other capital
stock of Purchaser is authorized or issued. All issued and outstanding shares of
Purchaser  Common  Stock are duly  authorized,  validly  issued,  fully paid and
non-assessable.

     3.8.  VALID  ISSUANCE.  Purchaser  Common  Stock,  if and  when  issued  in
accordance  with the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  will be duly  authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     3.9.  FINDERS  AND  INVESTMENT  BANKERS.  None of  Purchaser  or any of its
officers or directors  has  employed any broker or finder or otherwise  incurred
any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' fees in connection
with  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  to  which  NSAC  or  any  of  its
stockholders would be liable.

     3.10. EXISTING REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Exhibit 3.10 attached hereto sets forth
a list of all  agreements  in  effect  on the  date  hereof  pursuant  to  which
Purchaser  has granted  registration  rights  with  respect to any of its equity
securities,  together  with a  designation  of the number and type of securities
covered thereby.  Purchaser has delivered to NSAC true and correct copies of all
provisions of such agreements relating to such rights.


                                   ARTICLE IV.

                              ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     4.1.  FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  Each of the parties  shall,  from time to time,
whether before or after the Closing, execute such documents and other papers and
take such further

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

actions as may be reasonably required or desirable to carry out the provisions
hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     4.2. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.  So long as this Agreement is in effect, neither
party will issue any press release or make any other  announcement  with respect
to the  transactions  contemplated  in this  Agreement,  other than  disclosures
required by law to be made in any report,  statement or  registration  statement
filed by a party or its affiliates with the SEC. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, no press release or other voluntary announcement shall be made
unless the  content  and  wording of same has been  approved  in advance  and in
writing by both parties.

     4.3. AGREEMENTS PRIOR TO CLOSING.  NSAC and the Purchaser each agree (i) to
conduct its affairs in respect of NEXTBAND in the ordinary course,  (ii) to take
no action that would result in the incurrence of any liability by NEXTBAND,  and
(iii) to take no action  that  would  have any  material  adverse  effect on the
assets  of  NEXTBAND  or the  ability  of  either  of  them  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  During  the  period  from  the date of this
Agreement to the Closing Date, (i) NSAC will use its reasonable  best efforts to
preserve  the  Interests  and the LMDS  Licenses  intact,  free and clear of all
restrictions and  encumbrances  created by or through NSAC and (ii) each of NSAC
and the Purchaser will not sell, lease, license,  mortgage or otherwise encumber
or subject to any lien the Interests or the LMDS Licenses.

     4.4.  NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.  Each party shall give prompt notice
to the other if any of the  following  occur  after the date of this  Agreement:
(i) receipt of any notice or other communication in writing from any third party
alleging  that  the  Consent  of  such  third  party  is or may be  required  in
connection with the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  provided that
such Consent would have been required to have been disclosed in this  Agreement;
(ii) receipt of any material notice or other communication from any Governmental
Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or
(iii) the commencement of any litigation  involving or affecting NEXTBAND or the
notifying party or any of its subsidiaries,  or any of its properties or assets,
or, to its knowledge,  any employee,  agent,  director or officer, in his or her
capacity as such, of such notifying party or any of its  subsidiaries  which, if
pending on the date hereof,  would have been required to have been  disclosed in
this  Agreement  or  which  relates  to the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby. In addition,  Purchaser shall give prompt written notice to
NSAC of the  occurrence of any event which would be reasonably  likely to have a
Purchaser  Material  Adverse Effect and NSAC shall give prompt written notice to
Purchaser of the  occurrence  of any event which would be  reasonably  likely to
have a NSAC Material Adverse Effect.

     4.5.  REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS.  Subject to the terms and conditions  herein
provided,  Purchaser and NSAC agree to use all reasonable  best efforts to take,
or cause to be taken,  all  actions  and to do, or cause to be done,  all things
necessary,  proper or advisable to consummate  and make effective as promptly as
practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  including, but not
limited to:

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     (a) making all necessary  applications  and/or filings with the FCC as soon
as  practicable  but in no event  later  than 7 days from the date  hereof,  and
thereafter obtaining FCC approval of the license assignment  contemplated hereby
and any other  Consents from  Governmental  Authorities  and other third parties
required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and

     (b) making all necessary  filings under the H-S-R Act within 30 days of the
date hereof.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each of Purchaser and
NSAC shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to satisfy the
other conditions of the Closing set forth herein, provided that nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to require Purchaser or NSAC to
accept any term or condition or restriction required or imposed by any
Government Authority in connection with the governmental approvals being sought
for the transactions contemplated hereby, except for any terms, conditions or
restrictions that are of an administrative or ministerial nature. In addition,
each of Purchaser and NSAC will notify the other promptly upon the receipt of
any comments from any government officials and of any request by government
officials for amendments or supplements to any regulatory filing or for
additional information and will promptly supply the other with copies of all
correspondence between such party or any of its representatives, on the one
hand, and the government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the
regulatory filing. Purchaser will not take any action that would cause the last
sentence of Section 3.3 to be untrue at any time prior to the Closing, unless
such action would not (i) result in an adverse effect on Purchaser's
qualifications to be a holder of the LMDS Licenses or (ii) otherwise adversely
affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     5.1. CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS.  The respective obligations of
each party to effect the Closing shall be subject to the  fulfillment  or waiver
at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

     (a) NO INJUNCTION OR ACTION. No order,  statute,  rule,  regulation,  stay,
decree, judgment or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,  promulgated or
enforced  by any  court or  other  Governmental  Authority  which  prohibits  or
prevents the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby which has not
been vacated,  dismissed or withdrawn  prior to the Closing Date.  Purchaser and
NSAC  shall use  their  reasonable  best  efforts  to have any of the  foregoing
vacated, dismissed or withdrawn by the Closing Date.

     (b) H-S-R ACT. Any waiting  period (and any  extension  thereof)  under the
H-S-R Act applicable to the  transactions  contemplated by the Agreements  shall
have expired or been terminated.

                                      -8-

<PAGE> 

     (c) FCC  APPROVAL.  The FCC shall have  issued an order  (the "FCC  Order")
approving  the  transfer  of  control  of the  Interests  contemplated  by  this
Agreement, such approval shall be in full force and effect and shall have become
Final (as  hereinafter  defined).  The FCC Order shall have become Final when it
has been issued by the FCC,  when the time for filing any  protest,  request for
stay, petition or request for reconsideration,  petition for rehearing or appeal
or review  thereof (or of any subsequent  decision by any court or  governmental
entity) by or to the FCC or any court or governmental entity having jurisdiction
thereof or the over the premises,  or for the FCC to review or  reconsider  such
Order on its own motion,  shall have expired,  and when no protest,  request for
stay, petition or request for reconsideration,  petition for rehearing or appeal
or review of such Order is pending.

     (d) CONSUMMATION OF WNP INITIAL OFFERING. The Closing shall not be effected
before  the  earlier  of (i) the  date on  which  the WNP  Initial  Offering  is
consummated and (ii) July 1, 1999, provided,  however,  that (A) upon receipt by
NSAC of written notice from Purchaser  stating that in the judgment of Purchaser
the WNP Initial  Offering is not likely to occur on or before July 1, 1999, this
condition shall no longer be applicable and (B) if the WNP Initial  Offering has
not been  consummated  by June 30, 1999, the Closing shall occur on July 1, 1999
(or such later date on which all other conditions to Closing are satisfied).

     5.2.  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PURCHASER.  The obligations of Purchaser
to purchase  and pay for the  Interests  on the Closing Date shall be subject to
the fulfillment prior thereto of the following additional conditions, any one or
more of which may be waived by Purchaser:

     (a)  PERFORMANCE  BY NSAC.  NSAC shall have performed and complied with all
the covenants and agreements  and satisfied all the conditions  required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with or satisfied by it at or prior to the
Closing Date,  except for such failures to perform as have not had or would not,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a material adverse affect on NEXTBAND or
materially adversely affect the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (b) ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES.  The  representations  and
warranties  of NSAC  contained  herein  shall be true and correct  when made and
shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date except to the extent that any such  representation and warranty had
by its terms been made as of the date hereof or another  specific date, in which
case such representation and warranty shall have been true and correct as of the
date  hereof  or such  specific  date,  as the  case  may  be),  except,  in all
instances,  where  the  failure  to be so true and  correct  shall  not  result,
individually  or in  the  aggregate,  in a NSAC  Material  Adverse  Effect;  and
Purchaser  shall  have  received  a  certificate  signed on behalf of NSAC by an
authorized officer of NSAC to that effect.

     (c) CERTIFICATES AND OTHER DELIVERIES. NSAC shall have delivered, or caused
to be delivered,  to Purchaser  (i) a  certificate  executed on its behalf by an
authorized  officer  of NSAC to the  effect  that the  conditions  set  forth in
Section  5.2(a) have been  satisfied;  and (ii) duly adopted  resolutions of the
Board of Directors of NSAC approving the execution,  delivery

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

and performance of this  Agreement  and  the  instruments contemplated hereby,
certified  by its Secretary.

     (d) NO CONDITIONS.  No Governmental  Authority having jurisdiction over the
approval of the transactions  contemplated hereby shall have imposed or required
any  condition  to such  approval,  except  for any  conditions  that  are of an
administrative or ministerial nature,  except for conditions  resulting from any
action taken by Purchaser or Eagle River Investments  L.L.C. or their respective
controlled or controlling affiliates.

     (e) No Material  Adverse  Change.  There shall not have occurred  after the
date  hereof any event that has had or would  reasonably  be  expected to have a
NSAC Material  Adverse Effect (other than by reason of any action or inaction by
Purchaser or any of its controlled or controlling affiliates).

     5.3. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF NSAC. The obligations of NSAC to sell the
Interests on the Closing Date shall be subject to the fulfillment  prior thereto
of the following additional  conditions,  any one or more of which may be waived
by NSAC:

     (a)  PERFORMANCE BY PURCHASER.  Purchaser shall have performed and complied
with all the covenants and agreements and satisfied all the conditions  required
by this  Agreement to be performed or complied with or satisfied by Purchaser at
or prior to the Closing  Date,  except for such  failures to perform as have not
had or would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse
effect on the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (b) ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES.  The  representations  and
warranties of Purchaser contained in Sections 3.1 through 3.4 and in Section 3.9
and if, but only if,  Purchaser  shall not have delivered to NSAC an irrevocable
written  election to pay the entire  Remaining  Purchase  Price in cash,  in the
remaining  Sections of Article III (without  giving effect to any materiality or
knowledge  qualifications contained therein) shall be true and correct when made
and shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of
the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty
had by its terms been made as of the date hereof or another  specific  date,  in
which case such  representation and warranty shall have been true and correct as
of the date hereof or such  specific  date, as the case may be,  except,  in all
instances  other than Section  3.8,  where the failure to be so true and correct
shall not result,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  in a Purchaser  Material
Adverse Effect;  and NSAC shall have received a certificate  signed on behalf of
Purchaser by an authorized officer of Purchaser to such effect.

     (c) CERTIFICATES, LEGAL OPINIONS AND OTHER DELIVERIES. Purchaser shall have
delivered,  or caused to be delivered, to NSAC (i) a certificate executed on its
behalf by an authorized  officer of Purchaser to the effect that the  conditions
set forth in Section 5.3(a) have  have been satisfied; (ii) duly adopted
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser  approving  the  execution,
delivery and performance  of this Agreement and the  instruments  contemplated
hereby,  each certified by its Secretary; and (iii) if shares of Purchaser
Common Stock are to be delivered to NSAC at the Closing,  an opinion of counsel
to Purchaser,  dated the Closing Date, in form and

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

substance reasonably acceptable to NSAC, as to the matters covered by the first
sentence of Section  3.1,  Section 3.2, the first sentence of Section 3.3,
Section 3.4 and Section 3.8.

     (d) REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  If shares of Purchaser Common Stock are
to be  delivered  to NSAC at the  Closing,  Purchaser  shall have  executed  and
delivered to NSAC a Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.

     (e) NO CONDITIONS.  No Governmental  Authority having jurisdiction over the
approval of the transactions  contemplated hereby shall have imposed or required
any condition to such approval that materially and adversely affects NSAC or, if
shares of Purchaser Common Stock are to be delivered to NSAC at the Closing, the
value of  Purchaser  Common  Stock,  except  for any  conditions  that are of an
administrative  or ministerial  nature or are fully compensated by an assumption
of cost by Purchaser,  and except for conditions resulting from any action taken
by NSAC or any of its controlling or controlled affiliates.

     (f) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.  If shares of Purchaser Common Stock are to
be delivered to NSAC at the  Closing,  no event shall have  occurred on any date
during the period beginning at the commencement of the twenty trading day period
referred  to in  Section  1.2 and  ending on the day  before  the  Closing  Date
(whether  or not a Purchaser  Blackout  has  occurred)  that has had a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect.

     (g) EAGLE  RIVER  WAIVER  OF  PIGGYBACK  RIGHTS.  Eagle  River  Investments
L.L.C.'s waiver of its piggyback  registration  rights and holdback agreement in
connection  with the Initial  Offering  (as that term is defined in the WNP RRA)
shall  remain in full force and effect and such waiver  shall have been  amended
and  supplemented  to apply in connection  with the initial demand  registration
requested by NSAC pursuant to the NSAC Registration Rights Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI.

                        INDEMNIFICATION AND REIMBUREMENT

     6.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PARTIES.

     (a) In order to induce each of the parties to enter into this Agreement and
to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  each of  NSAC  and the
Purchaser  (each,  in its capacity as indemnitor  hereunder,  the  "Indemnifying
Party") shall,  subject to the further  provisions of this Article VI, indemnify
the other party and, without duplication, its stockholders,  directors, officers
and  employees  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified  Parties")  and shall hold the
Indemnified  Parties  harmless  against and with respect to any "Loss" which for
purposes of this Agreement shall include any and all actual liabilities,  costs,
losses, damages and expenses (whether or not arising out of third party claims),
including without limitation  reasonable attorneys' fees (after giving effect to
any  offsetting  benefit  actually  received  or  receivable),  incurred  by the
Indemnified Parties and arising out of or resulting from:

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

          (i) any  misrepresentation  or breach of warranty by the Indemnifying
      Party of any of its  representations  or warranties set forth in the
      Agreements or any Exhibit thereto; and

          (ii) any breach or nonfulfillment  by the Indemnifying  Party of any
      of its covenants,  agreements or other  obligations  set forth in the
      Agreements or any Annex, Schedule or Exhibit thereto.

     (b)  Entitlement to  indemnification  pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be
conditioned  upon claims in respect  thereof  being  submitted  in writing  with
detailed  specification showing the basis of such claim, including the provision
of this Agreement breached,  and a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount
of such claim,  if at all, by the relevant  Indemnified  Parties to the relevant
Indemnifying Party no later than twelve (12) months after the Closing Date.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.1, the right
to indemnity in respect of matters provided for in paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) of
this  Section  6.1 shall not be barred on the basis that the amount of the claim
has not been  ascertained,  liquidated or reduced to final judgment on or before
the expiration of the aforesaid  period,  provided that such claim is identified
in  writing  with  detailed  specification  showing  the  basis  of such  claim,
including the provision of this Agreement breached, and a reasonable estimate of
the amount of such claim.

     (d) The  remedies  provided in this Article VI and in Section 7.12 shall be
the relevant  Indemnified  Parties' sole  remedies  hereunder for breach of this
Agreement, except in the case of fraud.

     6.2.  Claims for  Reimbursement.  In the event that any  Indemnified  Party
suffers any Loss (as hereinabove defined) with respect to any liability or claim
to which the foregoing  indemnities  relate, such Person shall give the relevant
Indemnifying  Party prompt  written notice of the nature and amount of such Loss
and the Indemnified Party's claim for reimbursement therefor and if such Loss is
with respect to a third party claim, accompanied by a copy of the written notice
from the third party claimant. The Indemnified Party shall have 30 days from the
date of said notice to investigate and dispute the nature, validity or amount of
any such claim.  During said 30-day period,  representatives of one law firm and
one  accounting  firm  designated by the relevant  Indemnified  Party shall have
reasonable access, during normal business hours, to the books and records of the
Indemnified Party for the purpose of such  investigation.  In the event that the
relevant  Indemnifying  Party  disputes  the nature,  validity or amount of said
claim, such relevant Indemnifying Party shall give the Indemnified Party written
notice of such dispute within said 30-day period,  and the parties shall attempt
in good faith to resolve such dispute. If such dispute is not resolved within 10
days following  receipt of said notice of dispute by the Indemnified  Party, the
provisions of Section 6.5 hereof shall apply to such dispute.

     In the absence of a dispute, the relevant Indemnifying Party shall promptly
(but  not  later  than the  expiration  of said  30-day  period)  reimburse  the
Indemnifying  Party for such Loss.  In the event that the  relevant  Indemnified
Party  disputes only the amount of the claim,  the relevant  Indemnifying  Party
shall,  concurrently  with the  delivery  of its notice of  dispute,  pay to

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

the Indemnified  Party the  undisputed  portion of such claim and the
provisions of Section 6.5 hereof shall apply to the disputed portion of such
claim.

     All payments by the Purchaser  under this Article VI shall be in cash.  All
payments by NSAC hereunder may, at NSAC's discretion,  be paid either in cash or
in shares of Purchaser  Common Stock, to the extent NSAC received such shares of
Purchaser Common Stock at the Closing  hereunder.  If NSAC wishes to satisfy all
or any portion of an  acknowledged  liability  hereunder  in shares of Purchaser
Common  Stock,  such  shares  shall be valued at their  Volume-Weighted  Average
Trading Price for the twenty  trading day period ending on the date prior to the
Closing Date hereunder.

     6.3.  LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION.  (a) Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary in this Article VI, no Indemnifying Party will be obligated to make any
payment in connection with its indemnity  obligation under this Article VI until
Losses suffered or incurred by any one or more Indemnified  Parties to whom that
Indemnifying Party has an indemnity  obligation under this Article VI exceed, in
the  aggregate,  $50,000.  But  once  such  Losses  exceed  $50,000,  then  such
Indemnified   Parties   will  be  entitled  to  recover  all  Losses  from  that
Indemnifying Party up to a maximum account of $137,700,000  (including the value
of shares of  Purchaser  Common  Stock as  calculated  above,  in the event such
shares are used by NSAC as permitted above to pay any indemnification obligation
hereunder).

     6.4. DEFENSE OF THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS. If any lawsuit or enforcement action is
filed, or claim asserted  against an Indemnified  Party by a third party and the
Indemnified  Party is entitled to  indemnification  pursuant to this  Agreement,
written  notice  thereof  shall be given to the relevant  Indemnifying  Party as
promptly  as  practicable  (and in any  event no later  than 30 days  after  the
service of the  citation or summons or receipt of other  written  notice of such
claim);  the failure of any Indemnified  Party to give timely notice shall limit
the rights to indemnification  hereunder only if and to the extent that (i) such
failure to give  timely  notice  materially  affects the ability or right of the
relevant  Indemnifying  Party to  participate  in the defense of such lawsuit or
enforcement  action or claim,  (ii) actual  notice is not given to the  relevant
Indemnifying  Party within a reasonable  time,  or (iii) to the extent that such
failure to give timely  notice causes the relevant  Indemnifying  Party to incur
additional  expense  with  respect to such lawsuit or  enforcement  action,  the
Indemnified Party fails to promptly  reimburse the relevant  Indemnifying  Party
for such additional expense.

     The relevant Indemnifying Party shall be entitled, if it so elects, to take
control of the defense and  investigation of such lawsuit,  action or claim, and
to employ and engage  attorneys of its own choice to handle and defend the same,
at  the  relevant   Indemnifying  Party's  cost,  risk  and  expense;  and  such
Indemnified Party shall cooperate in all reasonable respects,  at its cost, risk
and expense,  with the  relevant  Indemnifying  Party and such  attorneys in the
investigation,  trial and  defense  of such  lawsuit  or action  and any  appeal
arising therefrom; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party may, at its own
cost, participate in (but not control) such investigation,  trial and defense of
such lawsuit or action and any appeal arising therefrom.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

     If the  relevant  Indemnifying  Party does not elect to take control of the
defense and investigation of said lawsuit or action,  then the Indemnified Party
shall remain in control thereof in such manner as it deems appropriate.

     Neither party shall enter into any settlement,  adjustment or compromise of
any lawsuit or action without the prior written consent of the other party which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

     6.5. RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES.

     (a) In the event of any dispute  between  Purchaser and NSAC over any claim
for reimbursement with respect to any matter to which the foregoing  indemnities
relate,  such  dispute will be finally  determined  by the  Accounting  Firm (as
defined  below) in the  manner  set  forth in  Section  6.5(b),  and any Loss so
determined will be promptly reimbursed to the appropriate Indemnified Parties by
the appropriate Indemnifying Party.

     (b) Any dispute  pursuant to Section 6.5(a) will be resolved by a member of
the Washington,  D.C. office of an accounting firm jointly  selected by NSAC and
Purchaser (the  "Accounting  Firm").  The Accounting Firm shall be instructed to
use all reasonable efforts to resolve such disputes within thirty (30) days. The
resolution of disputes by the  Accounting  Firm so selected will be set forth in
writing and will be conclusive  and binding upon all parties to such dispute and
the amount of the  reimbursement  payable as so resolved  will become  final and
binding  upon  the  date  of such  resolution.  The  fees  and  expenses  of the
Accounting Firm shall be paid by the unsuccessful party, if all the disputes are
resolved  against  such  party,  and in other cases shall be pro rated among the
parties as the  Accounting  Firm sees fit based on the  relative  success of the
parties in indicating their respective positions.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     7.1. AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only by a written agreement among each of the parties hereto.

     7.2.  TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date:

     (a) by the mutual written consent of Purchaser and NSAC; or

     (b) by  Purchaser  or NSAC if on the  Closing  Date  any  condition  to the
transactions  contemplated  hereby has not been satisfied or waived by the party
or parties  entitled to the  benefit of the same;  provided,  however,  that the
right to terminate this  Agreement  pursuant to this Section 7.2(b) shall not be
available  to any party whose  failure to perform any of its  obligations  under
this  Agreement  results  in the  failure  of any  such  other  condition  to be
satisfied; or

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

     (c) by  Purchaser  or NSAC if the  Closing  shall not have  occurred  on or
before  January 14, 2000;  provided,  however,  that the right to terminate this
Agreement  pursuant to this  Section  7.2(c) shall not be available to any party
whose failure to perform any of its obligations  under this Agreement results in
the failure of the Closing to occur by such date; or

     (d) by Purchaser or NSAC if any court of  competent  jurisdiction  or other
Governmental  Authority has issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other
action  restraining,   enjoining  or  otherwise   prohibiting  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and such order,  decree,  ruling or other action shall have
become final and nonappealable; or

     (e) by either  Purchaser  or NSAC upon  written  notice to the other if the
terminating  party is not in  material  breach  of its  obligations  under  this
Agreement  and if the  other  party  or its  subsidiary  shall  have  materially
breached  this  Agreement  and such  breach  shall  not have  been  cured in all
material respects or waived prior to the earlier to occur of the Closing Date or
thirty (30) days following the date the  terminating  party shall have given the
other party written  notice of such breach  setting forth the nature  thereof in
reasonable detail.

     7.3.  EFFECT  OF  TERMINATION.  In the  event  of the  termination  of this
Agreement  pursuant to Section 7.2, this Agreement shall  forthwith  become void
and have no  effect,  without  any  liability  on the  part of any  party or its
directors,  officers or stockholders,  except for the provisions of this Section
7.3, which shall survive any such termination. Nothing contained in this Section
7.3 shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement.

     7.4.  SURVIVAL.  All  representations,  warranties  and  covenants  in this
Agreement or in any  certificate  delivered  pursuant to this Agreement shall be
considered  to have  been  relied  upon by the  Parties  and shall  survive  the
Closing.

     7.5. NOTICES.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
facsimile, receipt confirmed, or on the next business day when sent by overnight
courier  or on the third  succeeding  business  day when sent by  registered  or
certified mail (postage  prepaid,  return  receipt  requested) to the respective
parties at the  following  addresses  (or at such other  address  for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

                  (i)  if to NSAC, to:

                                    Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp.
                                    c/o Nextel Communications, Inc.
                                    1505 Farm Credit Drive
                                    McLean, Virginia 22101
                                    Attention:  General Counsel
                                    Fax:  (703) 394-3896

                                    with a copy to:

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

                                    Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
                                    41 S. High Street, Suite 1900
                                    Columbus, Ohio 43215
                                    Attention:  Gregory A. Gorospe, Esq.
                                    Fax:  (614) 461-4198

                                    and

                  (ii)  if to Purchaser, to:

                                    NEXTLINK Communications, Inc.
                                    500 108th Avenue, NE, Suite 2200
                                    Bellevue, Washington 98004
                                    Attention:  R. Bruce Easter, Jr., Esq.
                                    Fax:  (425) 519-8997

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Willkie Farr & Gallagher
                                    787 Seventh Avenue
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Attention:  Bruce R. Kraus, Esq.
                                    Fax:  (212) 728-8111


     7.6. BINDING EFFECT;  ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement and all of the provisions
hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and
their respective  successors and permitted  assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor
any of the  rights,  interests  or  obligations  hereunder  shall be assigned by
either of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other.

     7.7. EXPENSES.

     (a) The parties to this Agreement shall, except as otherwise  specifically
provided herein,  bear their respective expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation,  execution and  performance of this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated hereby, whether or not the transactions are consummated, including,
without limitation, all fees and expenses of their respective agents.

     (b) The  prevailing  party in any legal action  undertaken  to enforce this
Agreement  or any  provision  hereof shall be entitled to recover from the other
party the costs and expenses  (including  attorneys'  and expert  witness  fees)
incurred in connection with such action.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

     7.8.  GOVERNING LAW. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the laws of the State of New York  applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.

     7.9.  COUNTERPARTS.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  one  or  more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     7.10.  INTERPRETATION.  The article and section headings  contained in this
Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement
of the parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or  interpretation of
this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, (i) the term "Person" shall mean and
include an individual, a partnership,  a joint venture, a corporation, a limited
liability company, a trust, an association,  an unincorporated  organization,  a
Governmental  Authority and any other entity, (ii) unless  otherwise  specified
herein, the term "affiliate," with respect to any person, shall mean and include
any person  controlling,  controlled by or under common control with such person
and (iii) the term  "subsidiary"  of  any  specified  person  shall  mean  any
corporation 50 percent or more of the outstanding voting power of which, or any
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity 50 percent
or more of the total equity interest of which,  is directly or indirectly  owned
by such specified person.

     7.11.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This  Agreement and the documents or instruments
referred to herein including,  but not limited to, the Exhibits attached hereto,
which are  incorporated  herein by  reference,  embody the entire  agreement and
understanding  of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter  contained
herein.  There  are  no  restrictions,  promises,  representations,  warranties,
covenants, or undertakings,  other than those expressly set forth or referred to
herein.  This Agreement  supersedes all prior agreements and the  understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

     7.12.  SPECIFIC  PERFORMANCE.  The parties  hereto  agree that  irreparable
damage  would occur in the event that any of the  provisions  of this  Agreement
were not performed in accordance  with their  specific  terms or were  otherwise
breached.  Accordingly,  the  parties  further  agree that each  party  shall be
entitled  to an  injunction  or  restraining  order to prevent  breaches of this
Agreement and to enforce  specifically  the terms and  provisions  hereof in any
court of the  United  States or any state  having  jurisdiction,  this  being in
addition to any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled  under
this Agreement, at law or in equity.

     7.13.  THIRD  PARTIES.  Nothing  contained  in  this  Agreement  or in  any
instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions
contemplated  hereby  shall  create  any  rights  in,  or be deemed to have been
executed for the benefit of, any person that is not a party hereto or thereto or
a successor or permitted assign of such a party; provided,  that any Indemnified
Party  shall be  entitled to the rights and  benefits  accorded  to  Indemnified
Parties pursuant to the terms of Article VI hereof.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Purchaser  and NSAC have caused this  Agreement to be
signed  and  delivered  by  their  respective  duly  authorized   officers,   as
applicable, as of the date first above written.

                                           NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.



                                          By: /s/ R. Bruce Easter
                                              ----------------------
                                              Name: R. Bruce Easter, Jr.
                                              Title: Vice President 



                                            NEXTEL SPECTRUM ACQUISITION CORP.



                                            By: /s/ Thomas J. Sidman
                                                ------------------------
                                                Name: Thomas J. Sidman
                                                Title: Vice President
                                      -18-



<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This  Registration  Rights Agreement (the  "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of _____________  _____, 1999 between NEXTLINK  Communications,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  and Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation ("NSAC").

     This Agreement is made in connection with the NEXTBAND  Interests  Purchase
Agreement,  dated March __,1999 (the "Purchase  Agreement")  between the Company
and  NSAC,  pursuant  to which  NSAC  may  acquire  Class A Common  Stock of the
Company.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition  precedent
to the issuance of the Company's  Class A Common Stock  pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.

     Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the
Purchase Agreement.

     The parties hereby agree as follows:

1.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

     As used in this  Agreement,  the  following  terms shall have the following
respective meanings:

     (a)  "AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY" means any officer,  director,  or holder of
          10% or more of any class of security issued by the Company, other than
          a Holder.

     (b)  "BUSINESS DAY" means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal
          holiday,  on  which  banks  in the  State  of New  York  are  open for
          business.

     (c)  "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     (d)  "COMMON STOCK" means the Class A Common Stock, par value $.02 per
          share, of the Company,  as constituted on the date hereof,  any shares
          into which such Common  Stock shall have been  changed,  or any shares
          resulting from any reclassification of such Common Stock.

     (e)  "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 
          or any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the
          Commission promulgated thereunder,  all as the same shall be in effect
          at the time.

     (f)  "HOLDERS"  means  NSAC  and  any  other  person  holding   Registrable
          Securities  to whom  these  registration  rights  have  been  assigned
          pursuant to Section 8(f) of this Agreement.

     (g)  "MERGER AGREEMENT" means the Merger Agreement, dated January 14, 1999,
          between the Company and WNP Communications, Inc.

<PAGE>

     (h)  "PERSON" shall mean an individual,  partnership,  corporation, limited
          liability company, association,  trust, joint venture,  unincorporated
          organization and any government,  governmental department or agency or
          political subdivision thereof.

     (i)  "REGISTRABLE  SECURITIES"  means  (i)  the  Common  Stock  held by any
          Holder;  (ii) any Common Stock or other securities  issued or issuable
          pursuant to the  conversion  of, or with  respect to, the Common Stock
          held  by  any   Holder   upon  any  stock   split,   stock   dividend,
          recapitalization,  or similar event;  and (iii)  securities  issued in
          replacement or exchange of any of the securities issued in clauses (i)
          or (ii) above.  A security  shall cease to be a  Registrable  Security
          when (A) such  security has been  disposed of by a Holder  pursuant to
          and in the manner  described  in an effective  registration  statement
          under  the  Securities  Act or (B)  such  security  has  been  sold or
          distributed by a Holder pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

     (j)  "REGISTRATION EXPENSES" means all expenses  incident to the Company's
          performance of or compliance with this Agreement,  including,  without
          limitation, all registration, filing, listing and National Association
          of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  ("NASD") fees, all fees and expenses of
          complying  with  securities  or blue sky  laws,  all word  processing,
          duplicating  and  printing   expenses,   all  messenger  and  delivery
          expenses,  any transfer taxes,  the fees and expenses of the Company's
          legal  counsel  and  independent  public  accountants,  including  the
          expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort"  letters  required by
          or incident to such performance and compliance, fees and disbursements
          of one counsel for all or a majority of the Holders,  and any fees and
          disbursements  of underwriters  customarily paid by issuers or sellers
          of securities; provided, however, that Registration Expenses shall not
          include underwriting discounts and commissions.

     (k)  "REQUISITE  HOLDERS"  means  Holders  holding  Registrable  Securities
          having  an  aggregate  Reference  Value of no less  than  $20,000,000.
          "Reference  Value" means the value assigned to a share of Common Stock
          for  purposes of  determining  the number of shares  delivered  at the
          Closing in accordance with Section 1.2 of the Purchase Agreement.

     (l)  "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
          successor  statute  thereto,  and the  rules  and  regulations  of the
          Commission promulgated thereunder,  all as the same shall be in effect
          at the time.

2. REGISTRATION.

      (a) DEMAND REGISTRATION.  At any time and from time totime (i) if the
          Closing has  occurred  under the Merger  Agreement  on or prior to the
          date  hereof,  after 180 days  following  the  Closing  Date under the
          Merger  Agreement and (ii) if the Closing  under the Merger  Agreement
          has not  occurred  on or  prior  to the date  hereof,  after  the date
          hereof, upon written request by the Requisite Holders that the Company
          effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or part of the
          Registrable  Securities  (a "Demand  Request"),  the Company  will use
          reasonable best efforts to register the Registrable  Securities  which
          the Company has been so requested to register by the Holders under the
          Securities Act for resale by the Holders in an  underwritten  offering
          (a  "Demand  Offering")  pursuant  to a  registration  statement  (the
          "Demand  Registration  Statement") that has been declared

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

          effective by the Commission, which  registration  statement shall be
          kept effective  by the Company  until the earlier of such time as the
          Demand  Offering is completed or the  expiration of 60 days  following
          the effectiveness of the Demand Registration Statement;  provided that
          the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Offering that is
          underwritten for Requisite Holders hereunder, but instead may effect a
          Demand  Offering  by  registering  resale  transactions   involving  a
          non-underwritten   distribution  of  Registrable  Securities,  if  the
          Registrable  Securities  sought to be included in such Demand Offering
          by such Requisite  Holders have an aggregate  Reference  Value of less
          than $30,000,000. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to have
          each  Demand   Registration   Statement   declared  effective  by  the
          Commission  within  ninety (90) days after  receipt of such request or
          within sixty (60) days after receipt of such request if the Company is
          qualified to file a registration statement on Commission Form S-3, S-2
          or  any  successor  or  similar  short-form   registration   statement
          (collectively, "Commission Form S-3"). Subject to subdivision (g), the
          Company may include in such Demand  Registration  Statement and Demand
          Offering  other  securities of the Company for sale, for the Company's
          account or for the  account  of any other  person.  Upon  receipt of a
          Demand Request, the Company shall promptly give written notice of such
          request  to all  Holders,  and  all  Holders  shall  be  afforded  the
          opportunity  to  participate  in such  request as follows:  subject to
          subdivision (f), the Company will include in each Demand  Registration
          Statement and Demand Offering such number of Registrable Securities of
          any Holder  joining  in such  request  as are  specified  in a written
          request by the Holder  received  by the  Company  within 20 days after
          receipt of such written notice from the Company.

     (b)  INCIDENTAL REGISTRATION.  For so long as  Registrable  Securities  are
          outstanding,  if the Company for itself or any of its security holders
          shall at any time or times after the date hereof determine to register
          under the  Securities  Act any  shares of its  capital  stock or other
          securities  (other than:  (i) the  registration  of an offer,  sale or
          other  disposition  of  securities  solely to  employees  of, or other
          persons providing services to, the Company, or any subsidiary pursuant
          to an  employee  or similar  benefit  plan;  or (ii) the  issuance  of
          securities in a merger,  acquisition or other  transaction of the type
          described  in Rule 145 under the  Securities  Act or a  comparable  or
          successor rule, registered on Form S-4 or similar or successor forms),
          on  each  such  occasion  the  Company  will  notify  each  Holder  of
          Registrable Securities of such determination at least thirty (30) days
          prior  to the  filing  of such  registration  statement,  and upon the
          request of any Holder given in writing  within  twenty (20) days after
          the  receipt  of  such  notice,  the  Company  will  cause  any of the
          Registrable  Securities specified by any such Holder to be included in
          such  registration  statement  to  the  extent  such  registration  is
          permissible  under the Securities Act and subject to the conditions of
          the Securities Act and subdivision (g) (an "Incidental Registration").

     (c)  REGISTRATION STATEMENT FORM.  The Company shall,  if permitted by law,
          effect any  registration  requested under Section 2 by the filing of a
          registration statement on Commission Form S-3.

     (d)  EXPENSES.  The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses incurred in
          connection with any Demand  Registration  Statement and any Incidental
          Registration  Statement.   Those  Holders  of  Registrable  Securities
          participating  in any Demand

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

          Offering and any Incidental Registration shall bear their respective
          pro  rata  share  of  any   applicable   underwriting   discounts  and
          commissions;  such  participating  Holders  agree  that  the  proceeds
          received by them upon  consummation  of any such offering shall be net
          of any and all such discounts and commissions.

     (e)  EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.   Neither   a  Demand   Registration
          Statement,  nor an Incidental  Registration requested pursuant to this
          Section 2 shall be deemed to have been  effected  until it has  become
          effective  with  the  Commission.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  a
          registration  statement  will not be deemed to have been  effected if:
          (i)  after  it  has  become   effective  with  the  Commission,   such
          registration  is  interfered  with by any stop order,  injunction,  or
          other order or  requirement  of the  Commission or other  governmental
          agency  or  any  court   proceeding   for  any  reason  other  than  a
          misrepresentation or omission by any Holder; or (ii) the conditions to
          consummation  of any Demand  Offering  contained  in the  underwriting
          agreement  entered into in connection with such  registration  are not
          satisfied,  other than solely by reason of some act or omission by any
          Holder.

     (f)  PRIORITY IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS.  If a  registration  is  an
          underwritten  registration and the managing  underwriters give written
          advice to the  Company and the Persons  requesting  such  registration
          that, in their opinion,  market conditions dictate that no more than a
          specified maximum number of securities could  successfully be included
          in such registration,  then the maximum number of securities  included
          in such  registration  statement  shall be limited  to such  specified
          number,  and  the  rights  of  the  Holders  to  participate  in  such
          registration will the subject to the following cutback provisions:

          (i)  In the case of the initial Demand Offering, the securities sought
               to be included in such offering by the Holders shall be excluded
               on a pro rata basis with the securities sought to be included in
               the Demand Offering by the Company and all other Persons seeking
               inclusion of securities in such offering (including pursuant to
               so-called piggyback registration rights), based upon the
               Holder's, the Company's and the other Persons' relative number
               of securities sought to be so included until the aggregate market
               value of the securities sought to be included in such offering by
               the Holders has been reduced to a number of shares constituting
               Registrable Securities equal to (A) 70% of the amount of the
               Registrable Securities initially subject to this Agreement less,
               if any portion of the Remaining Purchase Price under the Purchase
               Agreement was paid in cash ("Cash Payment"), (B) a number of
               shares constituting Registrable Securities given by the following
               formula:  X/Y, where X is the amount of the Cash Payment and Y is
               the Reference Value (as adjusted for stock splits, stock
               dividends, recapitalizations or similar events), after which any
               additional securities required to be excluded from such offering
               in order to comply with the advice of the managing underwriter
               shall be securities that were to have been offered for the
               Company's account until the offering includes no such securities,
               after which the securities sought to be included in such offering
               by the Holders shall be excluded on a pro rata basis with the
               securities sought to be included in the Demand Offering by all
               other Persons seeking inclusion of securities in such offering
               (including pursuant to so-called piggyback registration rights),
               based upon the

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

               Holder's and the other Persons' relative number of securities
               sought to be so included; and

         (ii)  If the  registration is an Incidental  Registration, (a) the
               securities  sought to be registered by the Company for its own
               account shall have priority for inclusion,  (b) the securities
               sought to be registered for the account of other Persons
               exercising  demand  registration  rights shall have priority for
               inclusion to the extent such rights  require such priority and
               (c) Registrable Securities held by the Holders may be  excluded
               on a pro rata  basis  with all other  Persons seeking  inclusion
               of  securities  in such  registration  pursuant to the  exercise
               of so-called piggyback  registration  rights,  based upon such
               Holder's and other Persons'  relative number of securities sought
               to be so included.

     (g)  BLACKOUT AND POSTPONEMENT.  Notwithstanding anything in paragraphs (a)
          and (b) of this  Section  2, the  Company  shall have the right (i) to
          delay any registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to
          paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 2 or (ii) upon written  notice to
          the  Holders,   to  prohibit  the  Holders  from  selling  Registrable
          Securities under any Demand  Registration  Statement or any Incidental
          Registration,  in any case for up to 120 days if such  registration or
          sale,  as  applicable,  would,  in  the  judgment  of the  Company  as
          reflected  in an  officer's  certificate  delivered  to  the  Holders,
          require  disclosures  that would not be in the Company's best interest
          to  make  at  such  time,  as  applicable;   provided,  however,  that
          registrations  shall not be delayed and/or sale prohibitions  relating
          to offerings shall not be in effect pursuant to the provisions of this
          paragraph  (g) for more than 270 days  during  any period of 365 days.
          The time period during which any sale prohibition relating to a Demand
          Registration  Statement  is in effect under this Section 2(g) shall be
          added to the time period for which a Demand Registration  Statement is
          otherwise required to remain effective under this Agreement.

3.  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

     (a)  If and whenever the Company is required to effect the  registration of
          any  Registrable  Securities  under the  Securities Act as provided in
          Section 2, the Company,  as  expeditiously  as possible and subject to
          the terms and conditions of Section 2, will:

          (i)  prepare  and  file  with the  Commission  the  requisite
               registration statement  to effect  such  registration and use its
               best  efforts to cause such registration to become and remain
               effective;
     
          (ii) permit any Holder  which,  in the  reasonable  judgment of the
               Holder, might be deemed to be an  underwriter  or a controlling
               person of the Company,  to  participate  in the  preparation  of
               such registration statement and to require the insertion therein
               of material, furnished to the Company in writing,  which in the
               reasonable  judgment of such Holder and its counsel  should be
               included and which is not reasonably objected to by the Company
               and its counsel;

          (iii)prepare and file with the Commission  such  amendments and
               supplements to such  registration  statement and the prospectus
               used in connection therewith  as may be  necessary  to keep such
               registration statement effective and to comply with

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

               the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
               disposition of all securities covered by such registration
               statement until the earlier of such time as all of such
               securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended
               methods of disposition  by the seller or sellers  thereof set
               forth in such  registration  statement or the  expiration of 60
               days after such registration  statement  becomes  effective  (in
               the  case of a Demand Registration Statement);

          (iv) furnish  to the  Holders  such  number  of  conformed  copies of
               such registration  statement  and of each  such  amendment  and
               supplement thereto (in each case including all  exhibits),  such
               number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration
               statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary
               prospectus) and any other prospectus   filed  under  Rule  424
               under  the  Securities  Act,  in conformity with the requirements
               of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as the purchaser
               or any Holder of Registrable Securities to be sold under such
               registration  statement may reasonably request in order to
               facilitate the distribution of such Registrable Securities;

          (v)  use its best efforts to register or qualify all Registrable
               Securities covered by such registration  statement under such
               other United States state securities or blue sky laws of such
               jurisdictions as any Holder of  Registrable  Securities  to be
               sold under registration statement shall reasonably  request,  to
               keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as
               such registration remains in effect, and take any other action
               which may be customary in similar offerings to enable the Holder
               of Registrable Securities to be sold under such registration
               statement to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of
               the securities owned by such Holder,  except that the Company
               shall not for any such  purpose be  required  to (a)  qualify
               generally to do business as a foreign  corporation in any
               jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the  requirements of
               this subdivision (v) be obligated to be so qualified,  or (b)
               subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

          (vi) use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered
               by such  registration  statement  to be  registered with or
               approved by such other United States state governmental agencies
               or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holder of
               Registrable  Securities to be sold under such  registration
               statement to consummate the intended disposition of such
               Registrable Securities;

         (vii) in the event of the  issuance  of any stop order  suspending  the
               effectiveness  of the registration  statement,  or of any  order
               suspending  or  preventing  the  use  of any  related prospectus
               or suspending the qualification of any Registrable  Securities
               included in such registration  statement  for sale in any
               jurisdiction, the Company shall use its best efforts promptly to
               obtain the withdrawal of such order;

        (viii) furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold under
               such registration statement  an  opinion,  dated  the  effective
               date of the registration statement, of the independent  counsel
               representing the Company for the purposes

                                      -6-

<PAGE>
               of such  registration, addressed to the  underwriters, if  any,
               and to the  Holders  making  such  request,  stating  that  such
               registration  statement has become  effective  under the
               Securities Act and that (i) to the best knowledge of such
               counsel,  no stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  thereof
               has been issued and no proceedings  for that purpose have been
               instituted or are pending or  contemplated  under the Securities
               Act; (ii) the registration statement,  the related prospectus,
               and each amendment or supplement  thereto,  comply as to form in
               all material  respects with the requirements of the Securities
               Act and the applicable  rules and  regulations of the Commission
               thereunder  (except that such counsel need express no opinion as
               to financial statements and related schedules and other projected
               financial or statistical  data contained  therein);  (iii) the
               descriptions in the  registration  statement or the prospectus,
               or any amendment or supplement  thereto,  of all legal and
               governmental  matters and  contracts  and other legal  documents
               or  instruments  are accurate and fairly present the information
               required to be shown;  and (v) such counsel does not know of any
               legal  or  governmental  proceedings,  pending  or  contemplated,
               required  to be described in the registration  statement or
               prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement  thereto, which are
               not  described as required  nor of any  contracts  or  documents
               or instruments of a character  required  to be  described  in
               the  registration  statement  or  prospectus,  or  any amendment
               or supplement  thereto or to be filed as exhibits to the
               registration  statement which are not  described  and filed as
               required.  Such counsel  shall also opine that, in the course of
               assisting  the  Company  in  preparing  the  Registration
               Statement,  nothing  has come to their attention  that would
               cause them to  believe  that the  Registration  Statement
               (excluding  the financial and  statistical  information
               contained  therein)  contains any untrue statement of a material
               fact or omits a material fact  necessary to make the  statements
               therein,  in light of the circumstances under which they were
               made not misleading.

          (ix) furnish  to the  Holders of  Registrable  Securities  to be sold
               under the  Registration Statement  a letter, dated the effective
               date  of  the  registration  statement, from the independent
               certified public accountants of the Company,  addressed to the
               underwriters,  if any, and to the Holders  making such  request,
               stating  that they are independent certified  public accountants
               within  the  meaning  of the  Securities  Act  and  that in the
               opinion  of  such accountants,  the financial  statements and
               other financial data of the Company included in the registration
               statement or the prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement
               thereto, comply as to form in all material  respects with the
               applicable  accounting  requirements  of the  Securities  Act.
               Such letter from the independent  certified  public  accountants
               shall  additionally  cover such other financial  matters
               (including  information as to the period ending not more than
               five business  days prior to the date of such letter) with
               respect to the  registration  in respect of which such letter is
               being given as the Holders may reasonably request.

           (x) immediately notify the Holders of Registrable Securities included
               in such registration statement at any time when a prospectus
               relating  thereto is required to be delivered  under the
               Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of
               which the  prospectus included in such registration  statement,
               as then in effect,

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

               includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state
               any  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
               necessary  to make the statements  therein not misleading in the
               light of the circumstances  under which they were made, and at
               the request of the  Holders  promptly  prepare  and  furnish to
               the  Holders a  reasonable number of copies of a supplement  to
               or an amendment  of such  prospectus  as may be necessary so
               that, as thereafter  delivered to the purchasers of such
               securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement
               of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact required to
               be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
               not  misleading in the light of the circumstances under which
               they were made;

          (xi) otherwise use all  reasonable  best  efforts to comply  with all
               applicable  rules and regulations  of the  Commission, and  make
               available  to  its  security  holders,  as  soon  as reasonably
               practicable,  an earnings  statement  covering the period of at
               least twelve  months, but not more than  eighteen  months,
               beginning  with the first  full  calendar  month  after the 
               effective  date of such  registration  statement,  which
               earnings  statement  shall  satisfy the provisions  of Section
               11(a) of the  Securities  Act and Rule 158  thereunder,  and not
               file any amendment or  supplement to such registration statement
               or prospectus to which any Holder shall have  reasonably objected
               in writing on the grounds that such  amendment or supplement does
               not comply in all material  respects with the  requirements  of
               the Securities Act or of the rules or regulations  thereunder,
               having been  furnished  with a copy thereof at least two business
               days prior to the filing thereof to the extent reasonably
               possible;

         (xii) provide a transfer agent for all Registrable Securities covered
               by such registration statement not later than the effective date
               of such registration statement;

        (xiii) use all  reasonable  best  efforts  to cause to be  quoted  or
               listed  all  Registrable Securities  covered by such
               registration  statement  on NASDAQ and any  securities  exchange
               on  which any of the Registrable Securities are then quoted or
               listed;

         (xiv) confer with NSAC as to mutually beneficial and appropriate time
               to schedule the first Demand  Offering  and  make  available the
               Company's  management  to  participate in roadshow presentations
               and conference calls with respect to such offerings; and 

          (xv) confer with NSAC as to mutually beneficial and  appropriate time
               to schedule any other underwritten  offerings of Company Common
               Stock that will include Registrable  Securities and use all
               reasonable  best efforts to work with NSAC to schedule such
               offerings so that the Company's management  will be able to
               participate  in roadshow presentations and conference calls with
               respect to any additional  Demand  Offerings in excess of $100
               million,  the  availability of its senior management, however,
               being subject to conflicting business necessities.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

     (b)  As a condition  to the  Company's  obligation  under this Section with
          respect  to any  Holder,  the  Company  may  require  such  Holder  of
          Registrable  Securities to be sold under such registration  statement,
          at the Company's expense, to furnish the Company with such information
          and  undertakings as it may reasonably  request  regarding such Holder
          and the  distribution  of such securities as the Company may from time
          to time reasonably request in writing.

     (c)  Each  Holder,  by execution  of this  Agreement,  agrees (A) that upon
          receipt of any notice of the Company of the  happening of any event of
          the kind  described  in  subdivision  (a)(x) of this  Section  3, such
          Holder will  forthwith  discontinue  its  disposition  of  Registrable
          Securities  pursuant to the  registration  statement  relating to such
          Registrable  Securities until the receipt by such Holder of the copies
          of the supplemented or amended prospectus  contemplated by subdivision
          (a)(x) of this  Section 3 and,  if so directed  by the  Company,  will
          deliver to the Company all copies (other than  permanent file copies),
          then in possession of the Holders of the  prospectus  relating to such
          Registrable  Securities  current at the time of receipt of such notice
          and (B) that it will immediately notify the Company,  at any time when
          a  prospectus   relating  to  the  registration  of  such  Registrable
          Securities is required to be delivered  under the  Securities  Act, of
          the happening of any event as a result of which information previously
          furnished  in writing by such Holder to the Company for  inclusion  in
          such  prospectus  contains an untrue  statement of a material  fact or
          omits to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
          necessary to make the  statements  therein not misleading in the light
          of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made.  In the event the
          Company  or any such  Holder  shall give any such  notice,  the period
          referred  to in  subdivision  (a)(iii)  of this  Section  3  shall  be
          extended  by a number of days equal to the  number of days  during the
          period from and including the giving of notice pursuant to subdivision
          (a)(x) of this  Section 3 to and  including  the date when such Holder
          shall  have  received  the  copies  of  the  supplemented  or  amended
          prospectus contemplated by subdivision (a)(x) of this Section 3.

4.  UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS.

     (a)  UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING.  In connection with any  underwritten  offering
          pursuant to a  registration  under  Section 2, the Company  will enter
          into  an  underwriting   agreement  with  the  underwriters  for  such
          offering,  such  agreement  to be in  form  and  substance  reasonably
          satisfactory  to all Holders  requesting  such  registration  and such
          underwriters  in  their  reasonable   judgment  and  to  contain  such
          representations  and warranties by the Company and such other terms as
          are  customarily  contained  in  agreements  of that type,  including,
          without  limitation,  indemnities  to the  effect  and  to the  extent
          provided  in  Section  5.  Each such  Holder  shall be a party to such
          underwriting agreement and may, at its option, require that any or all
          of the  representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on
          the part of, the Company to and for the  benefit of such  underwriters
          shall also be made to and for the benefit of each such Holder and that
          any or all of the  conditions  precedent  to the  obligations  of such
          underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent
          to the obligations of each such Holder. No Holder shall be required to
          make any  representations  or  warranties  to or  agreements  with the
          Company or the underwriters other than representations,  warranties or
          agreements

                                      -9-

<PAGE>


          regarding such Holder and its intended method of distribution and any
          other representation required by law.

     (b)  SELECTION OF  UNDERWRITERS.  The Company  shall  select its  customary
          underwriter  or,  alternatively,  an  underwriting  firm  of  national
          reputation,  with  expertise  in  comparable  offerings  by  companies
          engaged  in  businesses  similar  to  that  of  the  Company  that  is
          reasonably  satisfactory  to NSAC,  for any  Demand  Offering  and any
          underwritten offering pursuant to an Incidental Registration.

     (c)  HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS.  Each Holder agrees,  if required by the managing
          underwriter  in any  offering,  not  to  effect  any  public  sale  or
          distribution  of  Registrable  Securities,  any  sale or  distribution
          thereof  pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 under the Securities  Act, or any
          short sale thereof or any transaction or series of transactions having
          a substantially  similar  economic effect during the period  beginning
          (i) if the Closing under the Merger Agreement has occurred on or prior
          to the date hereof, on the date hereof and ending on the date 180 days
          after the Initial  Registration  Statement (as defined in that certain
          Registration   Rights   Agreement   between   Purchaser   and  certain
          stockholders  of WNP  Communications,  Inc.,  dated  January 14, 1999)
          shall have been  declared  effective or (ii) in the case of any Demand
          Registration or Incidental Registration, beginning seven days prior to
          the effective date of such registration  statement,  and ending on the
          date 180 days after any such  registration  statement  shall have been
          declared effective.

     (d)  PREPARATION, REASONABLE INVESTIGATION.

               In   connection  with  the  preparation  and  filing  of each
          registration  statement  under the  Securities  Act,  the Company will
          give Nextel, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel
          and accountants, drafts and final copies of such registration
          statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the
          Commission and each amendment  thereof or  supplement  thereto,  at
          least 5 business  days prior to the filing thereof with the
          Commission, and will give each of them such access to its books and
          records  and such  opportunities  to discuss  the  business  of the
          Company  with  its  officers  and  the independent  public
          accountants  who  have  certified  its  financial statements as shall
          be necessary,  in the opinion of such Holders' and such  underwriters'
          respective  counsel,  to  conduct  a  reasonable investigation within
          the meaning of the Securities Act.


5. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

     (a)  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. In the event of any registration under
          the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 of any Registrable Securities
          covered by such  registration,  the  Company  will,  and hereby  does,
          indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of  Registrable  Securities to
          be sold under such  registration  statement,  each such Holder's legal
          counsel,  each other person who  participates as an underwriter in the
          offering  or  sale  of  such   securities  (if  so  required  by  such
          underwriter as a condition to including the Registrable  Securities of
          the Holders in such  registration)  and each other person, if any, who
          controls any such Holder or any such underwriter within the meaning


                                      -10-

<PAGE>

          of the Securities Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties"),
          against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several,
          to which the Holders or underwriter  or  controlling  person may
          become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
          losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings,
          whether  commenced or threatened,  in respect thereof) arise out of or
          are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
          material  fact  contained in any  registration  statement under which
          such securities  were   registered   under  the Securities Act,  any
          preliminary  prospectus,  final prospectus or summary prospectus
          contained  therein  or  any  document   incorporated   therein  by
          reference,  or  any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto, or  any
          omission  or alleged  omission to state  therein  a material  fact
          required to be stated therein or necessary  to  make the statements
          therein  not  misleading,  or arise out of  any  violation  by the
          Company  of  any  rule  or  regulation   promulgated  under  the
          Securities Act or state  securities law applicable   to the Company
          and  relating  to action or  inaction  required of  the Company in
          connection  with  any such  registration,  and  the  Company  will
          reimburse  the  Indemnified  Parties  for any  legal  or any other
          expenses   reasonably   incurred  by  them  in  connection   with
          investigating  or  defending  any such  loss,  claim,  liability,
          action or proceeding;  provided,  however, that  the Company shall
          not be  liable to any  Indemnified  Party  in  any such case to the
          extent that any such loss, claim, damage,  liability (or action or
          proceeding  in respect  thereof)  or expense  arises out of or is
          based upon any untrue  statement or alleged   untrue  statement or
          omission or alleged omission made in such   registration statement,
          any  such  preliminary  prospectus,  final   prospectus,   summary
          prospectus,  amendment  or  supplement  in   reliance   upon and in
          conformity with written  information  furnished to  the Company by
          such Indemnified Party specifically for use therein.

     (b)  INDEMNIFICATION BY THE HOLDERS.   The  Company  may   require,   as  a
          condition to including any Registrable Securities of any Holder in any
          registration  statement  filed pursuant to Section 2, that the Company
          shall have received an undertaking reasonably  satisfactory to it from
          such Holder to indemnify  and hold harmless (in the same manner and to
          the same extent as set forth in subdivision (a) of this Section 5) the
          Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and
          each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
          of the  Securities  Act,  with  respect  to any  statement  or alleged
          statement in or omission or alleged  omission  from such  registration
          statement,  any preliminary  prospectus,  final  prospectus or summary
          prospectus  contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
          if,  and only if,  and only to the  extent  that,  such  statement  or
          alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
          upon and in conformity  with  information  furnished in writing to the
          Company  directly  by  such  Holder   specifically  for  use  therein;
          provided,  however,  that the obligation of any Holder hereunder shall
          be limited to an amount  equal to the net  proceeds  received  by such
          Holder upon the sale ofRegistrable Securities sold in the offering
          covered by such registration.

     (c)  NOTICES OF CLAIMS, ETC.   Promptly   after   receipt  by  an 
          Indemnified  Party  of  notice  of the  commencement  of any action
          or  proceeding  involving a claim  referred to in the preceding
          subdivisions of this Section 5, such  Indemnified Party  will,  if a
          claim in  respect  thereof  is to be made against a party  required
          to  provide  indemnification  (an "Indemnifying  Party"), give
          written notice to the latter of the commencement of such

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

          action,  provided,  however,  that the failure of any Indemnified
          Party  to give  notice  as  provided  herein  shall  not  relieve  the
          Indemnifying Party of its obligation under the preceding  subdivisions
          of this Section 5, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is
          actually  prejudiced by such failure to give notice.  In case any such
          action  is  brought  against  an  Indemnified  Party,  unless  in such
          Indemnified Party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between
          such Indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such
          claim, the Indemnifying  Party shall be entitled to participate in and
          to assume the defense  thereof,  jointly  with any other  Indemnifying
          Party similarly  notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel
          reasonably  satisfactory to such  Indemnified  Party, and after notice
          from the Indemnifying  Party to such Indemnified Party of its election
          so to assume the defense thereof,  the Indemnifying Party shall not be
          liable  to such  Indemnified  Party  for any  legal or other  expenses
          subsequently  incurred  by the latter in  connection  with the defense
          thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No Indemnifying
          Party  shall  consent  to entry  of any  judgment  or  enter  into any
          settlement without the consent of the Indemnified Party which does not
          include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or
          plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in
          respect to such claim or litigation.

     (d)  OTHER INDEMNIFICATION.   Indemnification  substantially equivalent to
          that  specified in the preceding  subdivisions  of this Section 5
          (with  appropriate  modifications)  shall be given by the  Company and
          each Holder of  Registrable  Securities  included in any  registration
          statement  with  respect  to  any  required   registration   or  other
          qualification  of  securities  under  any  Federal  or  state  law  or
          regulation of any  governmental  authority,  other than the Securities
          Act.

      (e) INDEMNIFICATION PAYMENT. The indemnification required by this Section
          5 shall be made by  periodic  payments  of the amount  thereof
          during the course of the  investigation or defense,  as and when bills
          are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.

      (f) SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS.  The  obligations  of the Company and of the
          Holders under this Section 5 shall survive the completion of any
          offering of Registrable Securities under this Agreement.

      (g) CONTRIBUTION.  If  the  indemnification  provided  for  in  this
          Section 5 is  unavailable  or  insufficient  to hold  harmless an
          Indemnified  Party, then each  Indemnifying  Party shall contribute to
          the amount  paid or payable to such  Indemnified  Party as a result of
          the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in this Section
          5 an  amount  or  additional  amount,  as the  case  may  be,  in such
          proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect the  relative  fault of the
          Indemnifying  Party or  parties  on the one  hand and the  Indemnified
          Party on the other in  connection  with the  statements  or  omissions
          which resulted in such losses,  claims, demands or liabilities as well
          as any other  relevant  equitable  considerations.  The relative fault
          shall be determined  by reference to, among other things,  whether the
          untrue or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact or the omission
          or alleged  omission to state a material  fact relates to  information
          supplied by the  Indemnifying  Party or parties on the one hand or the
          Indemnified  Party on the other  and the  parties' relative,  intent,
          knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
          such untrue  statement or omission.  The amount paid to an Indemnified
          Party as a result of the losses,

                                      -12-

<PAGE>
          claims,  damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of
          this  Section  5(g) shall be deemed to  include  any legal or other
          expenses  reasonably  incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection
          with  investigating  or  defending  any  action or claim  which is the
          subject   of  this   Section  5.  No  person   guilty  of   fraudulent
          misrepresentation   within  the  meaning  of  Section   11(f)  of  the
          Securities Act shall be entitled to  contribution  from any Person who
          was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

6.  COVENANTS RELATING TO RULE 144.

               With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and
          regulations of the Commission which may at any time permit the sale of
          securities  of the Company to the public  without  registration  after
          such  time as a  public  market  exists  for the  Common  Stock of the
          Company, the Company agrees:

          (a) to make and keep public information available, as those terms
          are understood  and defined in Rule 144 under the  Securities  Act, at
          all times after the date of the Closing;

          (b) to use all  reasonable  best  efforts  to then  file with the
          Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required
          of the  Company  under the  Securities  Act and the  Exchange  Act, as
          amended; and

          (c) so long as a  Holder  owns  any  Registrable  Securities,  to
          furnish to the Holder  forthwith  upon request a written  statement by
          the Company as to its compliance  with the reporting  requirements  of
          said Rule 144 and of the  Securities  Act and the Exchange Act, a copy
          of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such
          other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may  reasonably
          request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission
          allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

7. OTHER REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

               The Company  represents  and warrants that it has not granted any
          registration  rights to any Person other than as described pursuant to
          the Purchase Agreement.  The Company shall not grant to any Person any
          registration  rights  inconsistent with any of those contained herein,
          so long as any of the registration  rights under this Agreement remain
          in effect.

8. MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The parties hereto  acknowledge  that
          there may be no  adequate  remedy at law if any party fails to perform
          any  of  its  obligations   hereunder  and  that  each  party  may  be
          irreparably  harmed by any such failure,  and  accordingly  agree that
          each  party,  in  addition  to any  other  remedy  to  which it may be
          entitled at law or in equity,  shall be  entitled  to compel  specific
          performance of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement
          in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

          (b)   NOTICES.   All   demands,   requests,   notices  and  other
          communications  required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
          shall be in  writing  and shall be  deemed to have been duly  given if
          delivered  personally  or sent by  United  States  first  class  mail,
          postage prepaid, and to the parties hereto at the following address or
          at such other address as any party hereto shall  hereafter  specify by
          notice to the other party hereto:

                  (i)      if to the Company, addressed to:

                  NEXTLINK Communications, Inc.
                           500 108th Avenue, NE, Suite 2200
                           Bellevue, WA 98004
                           Attention: General Counsel
                           Facsimile No.: 425-519-8997

                  and

                  NEXTLINK Communications, Inc.
                           1730 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C. 20036
                           Attention: Corporate Counsel
                           Facsimile No.: 202-721-0995

                  with a copy to:

                           Willkie Farr & Gallagher
                           787 Seventh Avenue
                           New York, New York 10019-6099
                           Attention:  Bruce R. Kraus, Esq.
                           Facsimile No.: 212-728-8111

                  (ii)     if to NSAC, addressed to:

                  Nextel Spectrum Acquisition Corp.
                           c/o Nextel Communications, Inc.
                           1505 Farm Credit Drive
                           McLean, Virginia 22102
                           Attention:  General Counsel
                           Facsimile No.: 703-394-3896

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                  with a copy to:

                  Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
                  41 S. High Street, Suite 1900
                  Columbus, Ohio 43215
                  Attention:  Gregory A. Gorospe, Esq.
                  Facsimile No.: 614-461-4198

Except as otherwise  provided herein,  all such demands,  requests,  notices and
other  communications  shall be  deemed  to have  been  received  on the date of
personal  delivery  thereof  or on the third  business  day  after  the  mailing
thereof.

          (c) GOVERNING LAW.  This  Agreement  shall  be  governed  by and
          construed in  accordance  with the  internal  laws of the State of New
          York, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.

          (d) HEADINGS.  The descriptive  headings of the several  sections
          and  paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for  convenience  only,
          and do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in
          any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

          (e)  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS.  This  Agreement and the other
          writings referred to herein or delivered  pursuant hereto which form a
          part hereof  contain  the entire  understanding  of the  parties  with
          respect to its subject  matter.  This  Agreement  supersedes all prior
          agreements and understandings  between the parties with respect to its
          subject  matter.  This  Agreement may be amended and the observance of
          any term of this  Agreement  may be waived  (either  generally or in a
          particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by
          a written instrument duly executed by the Company and Nextel on behalf
          of the Holders. Each Holder of any Registrable  Securities at the time
          or  thereafter  outstanding  shall be bound by an  amendment or waiver
          authorized by this Section 8(e),  whether or not any such  Registrable
          Securities shall have been marked to indicate such consent.

          (f)  ASSIGNABILITY.  This  Agreement  and  all of the  provisions
          hereof will be assigned,  without the consent of the  Company,  by any
          Holder  to,  and  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of,  any  purchaser,
          transferee  or assignee of any  Registrable  Security to the extent of
          the securities so  transferred or assigned,  provided that the seller,
          transferor  or  assignor  does  not  affirmatively  restrict  in -461-
          writing the transfer or assignment of rights hereunder with respect to
          such  securities.  However,  the  Company  shall  not be  required  to
          recognize any such purchaser, transferee or assignee as a Holder under
          this  Agreement  unless and until  either (i) such person  becomes the
          holder of record of Series A Common Stock or (ii) the Company receives
          written notice of such purchase,  transfer or assignment and a written
          agreement by the purchaser,  assignee or transferee to be bound by the
          provisions of this Agreement.

          (g)  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
          counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an  original,  but all of
          which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

               (h) STOCK SPLITS,  ETC. If the Company at any time subdivides (by
          any stock split,  stock dividend,  recapitalization  or otherwise) its
          outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares or
          if the  outstanding  shares  of Common  Stock  shall be  combined  (by
          reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of shares, all
          numbers,  percentages,  computations  and the  like in this  Agreement
          shall be deemed  modified as necessary to give  appropriate  effect to
          such subdivision or combination.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have  executed this  Registration  Rights
Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                            NEXTLINK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.




                                            By: 
                                                ----------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:





                                            NEXTEL SPECTRUM ACQUISITION CORP.




                                            By: 
                                                ----------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:






© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission