D.C. Memo: Carr Blasts FCC's 'Secret, Backroom Deal' to Help Ergen's EchoStar

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Carr: Last week, the FCC under FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel gave EchoStar additional time to build out its wireless network. EchoStar received FCC approval on Sept. 20 – just two days after the company filed the request. Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, in comments to the New York Post, ripped the FCC's action and called it "the worst abuse of agency process I have seen in my twelve years of working at the FCC.” FCC approval of an extension for at least 18 months was granted in the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS), EchoStar said. "I have never heard of the FCC granting relief like this with no process, no public input, and no heads up,” Carr said. “The Democrats in FCC leadership cut a secret, backroom deal – one that kept the Republican FCC Commissioners and perhaps others completely in the dark — and then hustled it out the door on a Friday afternoon.” The Post described EchoStar Chairman Charles Ergen as "a longtime democrat donor." An EchoStar spokesperson told the Post: “It’s a matter of record that EchoStar and Charlie Ergen have supported both Republicans and Democrats for many years.”

An FCC spokesperson sent Policyband the following statement: "When the Sprint-T-Mobile merger was approved, then-Commissioner Rosenworcel dissented, warning that consumers would bear the risk if Dish failed to build a nationwide network. Consistent with FCC rules and standard practice, the [Wireless Telecommunications] Bureau worked with Dish to make adjustments to its buildout plans to accelerate 5G open RAN deployment, which is important for national security, and open up vital spectrum resources to rural carriers at a time when the lapse of the FCC’s auction prevents new licenses from being offered. The 18-month extension ensures the availability of a low-cost service plan, and allows smaller, rural carriers and tribes to service communities in the interim while Dish grows its network into a viable competitor to the three major wireless carriers, as this original merger intended. Given the circumstances, these extensions presented the best path forward for competition and consumers.”