Topic 7- Dish Network Corporation (DISH)
Late in 2012, the FCC removed regulations on 40 MHz of underutilized satellite communications frequency spectrum held by Dish Network Corporation by allowing the spectrum in the AWS-4 band to be utilized nationally for terrestrial communications.1 Additionally, DISH has purchased frequency spectrum in FCC auctions in the AWS-3, H block, 600 MHz, and 700 MHz bands.
DISH held off for several years from declaring how it intended to deploy its frequency spectrum while experimenting extensively with wireless broadband.2 There have been numerous deadlines. The FCC placed buildout requirements for DISH to implement the spectrum. December 20, 2013, an FCC Opinion and Order concerning DISH spectrum called for 40 percent signal coverage by the AWS-4 licenses within four years or a 70 percent buildout within seven years.3 DISH petitioned and received a waiver allowing it eight years to perform the buildout by early 2021.
On July 31, 2019, DISH unveiled a new plan for its network buildout based on the proposed T-Mobile-Sprint merger.4 Under the agreement made between T-Mobile, Sprint, DISH, and the Anti-Trust Department of the Department of Justice (DOJ) DISH was required to deploy a national network capable of serving 20% of the U.S. population by June 14, 2020. Wireless site acquisition and permitting activity by DISH was ongoing since 2018 for the NB-IoT Network. The NB-IoT Network development was shut down and activities were reactivated toward the new goal of building a fourth national wireless carrier 5G standalone network.5 DISH has further committed that its facilities-based 5G broadband network will be capable of serving 70 percent of the U.S. population by June 14, 2023. Extensive nationwide wireless site acquisition and permitting activity has been ongoing and can be expected to continue for years to come, albeit predominantly collocations from the beginning changing over to new ground sites over time.
