Spectrum

Tower Companies Continue Push for Conditions on EchoStar Spectrum Deals

Executives urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to ensure Dish’s obligations would be paid.

Jake Neenan

Jan 23, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr by Jose Luis Magana/AP

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2026 – Ten tower company executives met Tuesday with the head of the Federal Communications Commission to urge the agency to tack conditions onto EchoStar's multibillion-dollar spectrum sales.

The companies have been looking for the agency to require that EchoStar pays the bills of its subsidiary, Dish Wireless, once the deals are consummated.

Dish has been telling tower companies and others that it can exit contracts because the FCC effectively forced its parent company’s sales, amounting to an unforeseeable “force majeure” event leaving Dish unable to pay its dues.

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Spectrum FCC Brendan Carr Crown Castle DISH American Tower WIA Echostar

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