Federal regulators on Friday delayed a decision on whether Dish Network can use its recently acquired spectrum for a terrestrial-only mobile broadband network.
The company had asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive requirements tied to the spectrum that services riding on the airwaves include a satellite component.
Though regulators approved Dish’s purchase of the spectrum Friday, the FCC’s denial of the waivers means Dish must wait for the agency to make permanent rules on how the airwaves can be used.
Dish said in a statement it was disappointed that the FCC didn’t grant the waivers.
“We believe that the denial of those waivers will delay the advancement of some of President Obama’s and the FCC’s highest priorities — namely freeing up new spectrum for commercial use and introducing new mobile broadband competition,” the Douglas County-based company said.
Reuters reported that the FCC is expected to issue a decision on the waivers by the end of the year. An FCC spokesman said the “rulemaking process will best serve the public interest and maximize the long-term value of the spectrum for the American economy.”
Dish, the nation’s second-largest satellite-TV company, has said it wants to build a high-speed, 4G network. Analysts have estimated that the company would try to reach at least 30 million potential customers.
Without the waivers, Dish would have to build a hybrid network that allows handsets to communicate with satellites and land-based cell sites.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or
Denver Post wire services contributed to this report.
