Press reports (Katherine Burton & Alex Sherman of Bloomberg) indicate DISH Network Corp (NASDAQ:DISH)’s Chairman Charles Ergen made an offer of $2 billion for LightSquared’s spectrum holdings on Monday. The reports suggest the offer is good until the end of this month. The $2 billion by Ergen would cover the $1.7 billion in bank debt that LightSquared owes and could leave some value for its preferred shareholders. Depending on how much of LightSquared’s spectrum is eventually...
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice outlining its proposal to create rules intended to expand the access of broadband services onboard planes by establishing an air-ground mobile broadband service, which would operate in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band, on a secondary, non-interference basis with Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) Earth-to-space communications. According to the FCC, “The key to such band sharing is spatial diversity, with FSS earth station antennas oriented to the south and above the horizon,...
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Google Fiber is the latest challenge to cable TV providers, and could compete in both rural and many urban areas. Unless there’s a meaningful uptick in housing/pricing, there could be little room for further expansion and investors will force companies companies to demonstrate their ability to beat and raise earnings estimates. Google Fiber is consistent with the FCC’s objective to increase broadband. Under the National Broadband Plan, the FCC would like to improve wireline broadband...
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the merger of T-Mobile with MetroPCS Communications Inc (NYSE:PCS). FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said that the approval of the fourth and fifth largest wireless carriers’ merger is a sign of strengthening American mobile market. “We are seeing billions more in network investment, while the courts have upheld key FCC decisions to accelerate broadband build-out, promote competition, and benefit consumers, including our broadband data roaming and pole attachment rules,” said Genachowski. FCC...
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The Federal Communications Commission has said that it will investigate the legal issues surrounding the unlocking of cell phones. The regulator released a statement earlier today citing the widespread protest of the move, as evidenced by an online petition, as part of the impetus for their new action. In January this year a law was passed that made the practice of cell phone unlocking illegal for users on a hardware subsidizing contract. Cell phone...
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CNBC’s policy on restricting interviews has just come to light recently, and the network takes it very seriously — so seriously in fact, that it even holds U.S. regulators to it. The policy is very simple. The network does not allow guests who have been on Bloomberg or Fox Business to appear on its shows on the same day. You might think that CNBC would at least give way a little to the Federal...
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DOJ and FBI, backed by the Department of Homeland Security, have asked the FCC to not act on the proposed takeover of Sprint (S) by Japan’s SoftBank until the agencies complete their review of related national security, law enforcement, and public safety issues. Analysts at Stifel Nicholas expect the FCC to agree, as it has done in the past when the DOJ and other agencies have made similar requests on proposed foreign purchases of...
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DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) has asked the Federal Communications Commission to slow down the merger between Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) and Softbank Corp (PINK:SFTBF) (TYO:9984) The $20 billion agreement between the two companies gave Softbank 70 percent of Sprint Nextel in return for cash that would enable Sprint Nextel to make a bid for the rest of Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR) that it didn’t already control. But now regulatory documents filed by DISH contend that the...
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John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp (Capital) (NASDAQ:LMCA), on Thursday, got approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take control of Sirius XM Radio Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI). The FCC ruled that the takeover of Sirius XM by Liberty Media is in the public interest and does not hurt industry competition. Douglas County-based Liberty Media Corp (Capital) (NASDAQ:LMCA), was keen on acquiring the growing 23 million-subscriber radio service, since it bought a 40 percent stake in...
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DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) recently received the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the expansion of its 4G LTE network in areas with congested bandwidth; however, the company faces some restrictions. Based on the statement by DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) last week, the FCC removed the outdated regulation and provided the company with flexibility for most of the AWS-4 band. According to the company, the FCC took an important step in facilitating...
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DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) has been given approval by U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to offer smartphone services. “The FCC has removed outdated regulations and granted terrestrial flexibility for most of the AWS-4 band,” Dish senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Jeff Blum, said in a statement today. “The commission has taken an important step toward facilitating wireless competition and innovation,” Jeff Blum said in an e-mailed statement after the vote. “Following a...
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