(Telecompaper) Private-equity firm Centerbridge Partners has reached a tentative deal to buy LightSquared out of bankruptcy proceedings, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Centerbridge proposed paying roughly USD 3.3 billion for the wireless venture backed by financier Philip Falcone and assuming about USD 1.7 billion in various liabilities. The deal would be executed under a bankruptcy-reorganization plan, some of the sources said. Satellite TV group Dish Network earlier this year bid USD 2.2 billion for LightSquared. This was to serve as the opening offer for a bankruptcy auction scheduled 11 December, but the auction was canceled at the last minute. Fortress Investment Group also planned to make an offer for LightSquared but withdrew the bid 11 December, people familiar with the matter said. Fortress has been a LightSquared investor and now backs Centerbridge's plan, some of the people said.