FCC ends investigation into EchoStar’s 5G build, spectrum use

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr notified EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen that the agency is ending its investigation into EchoStar’s 5G buildout and use of terrestrial and Mobile Satellite Services AWS-4 spectrum. The letter was delivered after EchoStar reached a deal to sell AWS-4 and H-block spectrum to SpaceX for about $17 billion, as well as 600 MHz and 3.45 GHz spectrum to AT&T for about $23 billion. The spectrum sales still require formal FCC approval, and more spectrum sales are expected as EchoStar winds down its wireless aspirations. Boost Mobile will continue operating on a “hybrid mobile network operator” basis. Specifically, in his September 8 letter to Ergen, Chairman Carr said he directed FCC staff to: “(1) dismiss VTel’s petition for reconsideration; (2) confirm that EchoStar holds exclusive terrestrial and MSS rights over the AWS-4 spectrum to which it is currently licensed; and (3) find that relevant FCC buildout and other related obligations have been satisfied by EchoStar in view of the company’s current FCC milestones.”