DISH Network (NASDAQ:DISH) has submitted a merger proposal to Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) for $25.5 billion, consisting of $17.3 billion in cash and $8.2 billion in stock.DISH owner Charlie Ergen said in a statement that the proposed merger would create a combined company that can offer a nationwide bundle of in- and out-of-home video, broadband and voice services. He also said the combined national footprints and scale could help bring improved broadband services to millions of homes with inferior or no broadband access.