Dish Affiliates to Return Some Airwaves Won at U.S. Auction
- Ergen’s airwaves strategy upended after small-business claim
- Entities will pay $413 million, forfeiting 197 licenses
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Dish Network Corp. affiliates will surrender some airwaves licenses won at an auction after the Federal Communications Commission denied them a $3.3 billion small-business discount, complicating co-founder Charlie Ergen’s plans to stockpile frequencies and enter the wireless business.
The two entities -- SNR Wireless LicenseCo LLC and Northstar Wireless LLC -- will retain a combined 505 licenses valued at almost $10 billion, and pay a $413 million penalty for 197 licenses they’ll give up, according to filings released Thursday by the FCC. Dish confirmed the decisions in a separate statement.