From The Denver Post:
The federal rulemaking process that will determine when or whether Dish Network can use its recently acquired spectrum for a competitive mobile broadband network is expected to kick off Wednesday and could be completed by summer's end, according to Dish executives. The Douglas County-based company also estimates that building a new network could cost $5 billion and take three years or longer, though a joint project with a wireless carrier could significantly trim both. Before it can proceed, Dish needs the Federal Communications Commission to drop a condition that handsets using the new spectrum be able to communicate with both satellites and ground-based cellular towers. Dish envisions a ground-based system, like those more commonly available. The FCC requirement would add to the cost and size of the handsets, making Dish's service less competitive with existing options from the likes of Verizon Wireless and AT&T. While acknowledging that FCC rulemaking can take close to a year, Dish is hoping for an expedited process because of the nation's looming spectrum crunch. "We're optimistic that that can be moved along and be finalized in late summer or early fall," said Tom Cullen, executive vice president at Dish, the nation's second largest satellite-TV provider. An FCC spokesman said Monday that the agency, which decided this month to address the spectrum requirement through rulemaking rather than grant Dish a waiver, is focused on removing regulatory barriers "to unleash more spectrum for mobile broadband." Dish spent $3 billion acquiring the spectrum in deals for bankrupt satellite technology companies TerreStar Networks and DBSD, which offered services with the satellite requirement. Cullen said Dish is looking at options to "improve the capability of the existing infrastructure with that satellite condition." "In the meantime, we'll continue working with the FCC and entertain discussions on how to best get to market faster," Cullen said. "There clearly could be opportunities to do things jointly with existing providers in terms of network sharing and other opportunities like that." If it is successful in launching a wireless broadband network, Dish would be the only nationwide pay-TV provider with such an asset . The network could be a game changer as consumers' video-viewing habits shift from the TV set to smartphones and tablets, which often require mobile Internet connections. For years, Dish has been shorthanded in its battle with cable-TV competitors because it doesn't operate a wired broadband network. Cable-TV providers aren't standing still on wireless. A group of cable companies that includes Comcast announced in December deals to sell wireless spectrum to Verizon and to joint market their services. The spectrum sale requires regulatory approval.
Read more: FCC rulemaking on spectrum to begin Wednesday; Dish Network hopes for ruling by fall - The Denver Post FCC rulemaking on spectrum to begin Wednesday; Dish Network hopes for ruling by fall - The Denver Post
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The federal rulemaking process that will determine when or whether Dish Network can use its recently acquired spectrum for a competitive mobile broadband network is expected to kick off Wednesday and could be completed by summer's end, according to Dish executives. The Douglas County-based company also estimates that building a new network could cost $5 billion and take three years or longer, though a joint project with a wireless carrier could significantly trim both. Before it can proceed, Dish needs the Federal Communications Commission to drop a condition that handsets using the new spectrum be able to communicate with both satellites and ground-based cellular towers. Dish envisions a ground-based system, like those more commonly available. The FCC requirement would add to the cost and size of the handsets, making Dish's service less competitive with existing options from the likes of Verizon Wireless and AT&T. While acknowledging that FCC rulemaking can take close to a year, Dish is hoping for an expedited process because of the nation's looming spectrum crunch. "We're optimistic that that can be moved along and be finalized in late summer or early fall," said Tom Cullen, executive vice president at Dish, the nation's second largest satellite-TV provider. An FCC spokesman said Monday that the agency, which decided this month to address the spectrum requirement through rulemaking rather than grant Dish a waiver, is focused on removing regulatory barriers "to unleash more spectrum for mobile broadband." Dish spent $3 billion acquiring the spectrum in deals for bankrupt satellite technology companies TerreStar Networks and DBSD, which offered services with the satellite requirement. Cullen said Dish is looking at options to "improve the capability of the existing infrastructure with that satellite condition." "In the meantime, we'll continue working with the FCC and entertain discussions on how to best get to market faster," Cullen said. "There clearly could be opportunities to do things jointly with existing providers in terms of network sharing and other opportunities like that." If it is successful in launching a wireless broadband network, Dish would be the only nationwide pay-TV provider with such an asset . The network could be a game changer as consumers' video-viewing habits shift from the TV set to smartphones and tablets, which often require mobile Internet connections. For years, Dish has been shorthanded in its battle with cable-TV competitors because it doesn't operate a wired broadband network. Cable-TV providers aren't standing still on wireless. A group of cable companies that includes Comcast announced in December deals to sell wireless spectrum to Verizon and to joint market their services. The spectrum sale requires regulatory approval.
Read more: FCC rulemaking on spectrum to begin Wednesday; Dish Network hopes for ruling by fall - The Denver Post FCC rulemaking on spectrum to begin Wednesday; Dish Network hopes for ruling by fall - The Denver Post
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: Terms of Use - The Denver Post
