FCC Commissioner Questions DISH’s AWS-3 Subsidy

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai called for an investigation into how DISH Network Corp. qualified for a multi-billion discount in the recently completed AWS-3 spectrum auction.

By acting through two companies in which it holds an 85% stake, DISH was qualified as a small company in the auction, entitling it to a 25% discount on acquired spectrum.  Pai notes that DISH has annual revenues of almost $14 billion, a market capitalization of over $32 billion, and over 14 million customers.

http://www.fcc.gov/document/commissioner-pai-statement-abuse-designated-entity-program