At that same time, Sprint did know that a control position in Clearwire would set off cross defaults at Sprint pertaining to covenants on old bonds floated years ago by Nextel.

FORBES: Softbank's Brilliant Buy One (Sprint), Get One Free Deal (Clearwire)

The alarm set off by the men is known as an EPIRB - an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Bristol/Somerset | Stricken rowers rescued by ship