FCC angers small carriers by helping AT&T and Starlink buy EchoStar spectrum

The FCC approved EchoStar's $40 billion spectrum sales to AT&T and SpaceX , with AT&T acquiring approximately 50 megahertz of nationwide spectrum for $23 billion and SpaceX purchasing 65 megahertz for $17 billion to boost Starlink's device-to-device offering . The FCC required EchoStar to establish a $2.4 billion escrow account to address potential disputes over construction-related work obligations , a condition that drew criticism from smaller carriers concerned about the impact on industry competition.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-13