FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has issued a letter to EchoStar announcing that the Commission has officially concluded its investigation into EchoStar’s compliance with its 5G buildout milestones, its Mobile Satellite Services rights, and its terrestrial rights over its AWS-4 spectrum. The FCC’s investigation, which began in May 2025, was prompted by concerns over EchoStar’s delayed deployment and its negotiations with the previous administration regarding extensions of its 5G buildout timelines.
In concluding the investigation, Chairman Carr has directed the agency staff to: (1) dismiss VTel’s petition for reconsideration regarding EchoStar’s extended 5G buildout timelines; (2) confirm that EchoStar holds exclusive terrestrial and MSS rights over its AWS-4 spectrum; and (3) find that EchoStar has met the relevant 5G buildout obligations.
The FCC’s decision comes on the heels of EchoStar’s announcement of two major spectrum sales. First, EchoStar announced a $23 billion deal with AT&T in which it would assign its 600 MHz and 3.45 GHz spectrum licenses to AT&T and then EchoStar announced a $17 billion agreement with SpaceX in which it would assign its AWS-4 and AWS H-block spectrum licenses to SpaceX.
