Overview

• President Trump met with EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen and FCC Chair Brendan Carr to push for a resolution over the company’s wireless spectrum licenses.
• The FCC’s May investigation targeted EchoStar’s 2019 mandate to build a 5G network covering 70% of the U.S., with noncompliance threatening license revocation.
• EchoStar had missed several debt interest payments and was considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect its spectrum assets before the White House intervention.
• Trump warned he did not want to see a major American firm go bankrupt, pressing both sides to finalize an agreement that preserves EchoStar’s licenses.
• Securing these spectrum rights is crucial for EchoStar’s Boost Mobile, Dish Network, Sling and HughesNet services and its ability to compete in the 5G market.