WASHINGTON, D.C., July 22, 2015 – Today, DISH, Northstar Wireless, SNR Wireless and certain other parties attended a meeting with staff of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the FCC to discuss a draft order that has been circulated by the Chairman's office for approval by the other Commissioners relating to Northstar Wireless’ and SNR Wireless’ respective pending applications for the AWS-3 Licenses. At the meeting, DISH was informed that the draft order, if approved, would find that: (i) DISH has a controlling interest in Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless, therefore DISH’s revenues should be attributed to them, which in turn makes Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless ineligible to receive the 25% bidding credits (approximately $1.9 billion for Northstar Wireless and $1.4 billion for SNR Wireless) for which each had applied to receive as designated entities under applicable FCC rules; (ii) Northstar Wireless and SNR Wireless are qualified to hold the AWS-3 Licenses; (iii) the FCC will not designate the matter for a hearing, or refer the matter to the FCC enforcement bureau or the Department of Justice; and (iv) all other relief sought by the parties that filed Petitions to Deny will be denied. The draft order remains subject to change, and must be approved by a majority of the Commissioners to become effective.
DISH Executive Vice President and General Counsel, R. Stanton Dodge, issued the following statement:
"DISH has a tremendous amount of respect for the FCC commissioners and staff, and we appreciate their hard work on this matter. However, we respectfully disagree with the proposed denial of the bidding credits. Our approach to the AWS-3 auction, which followed 20 years of FCC precedent and complied with all legal requirements, was intended to enhance competition -- in the auction and in the marketplace long term. Our investments in NorthStar and SNR helped make the AWS-3 auction the most successful spectrum auction in FCC history, and resulted in more than $20 billion of direct benefit to the American taxpayer.”
An 8-K filed by DISH regarding this matter can be viewed here (http://dish.client.shareholder.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1104659-15-52620)
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 13.844 million pay-TV subscribers, as of March 31, 2015, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. Subscribers enjoy a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.
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