Public Knowledge, New America Foundation ask FCC to keep Dish from selling spectrum

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Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation told the Federal Communications Commission that if it grants Dish Network a large block of spectrum for free, it should come with conditions meant to ensure the grant serves the public interest — by keeping the company from selling the spectrum licenses to AT&T or Verizon.

Dish hopes the FCC will grant it a block of spectrum that has an estimated value of between $4 billion and $6 billion. Dish is asking the FCC for a waiver that would allow it to use some of the same 2 gigahertz spectrum that it uses to communicate with satellites to operate a mobile network. The public interest groups said in the filing that they "welcome the Commission's effort to reallocate fallow Mobile Satellite Spectrum for more fully flexible licensing in a manner that holds the potential to promote wireless industry competition, innovation and consumer welfare.” But given the value of the spectrum, the groups warned Dish could simply “flip” it to Verizon or AT&T, and said the FCC should impose conditions on the company to prevent that from happening. The groups urged the FCC to set aside half the spectrum for wholesale leasing or roaming by other carriers.


Public Knowledge, New America Foundation ask FCC to keep Dish from selling spectrum Public Interest Groups Ask Conditions on $6 Billion Spectrum Award (Public Knowledge) Watchdog Groups Seek Conditions on Dish Waiver (National Journal)