"The AT&T/EchoStar deal was "inevitable in light of Chairman Carr's determination that immediate intensity of spectrum use should trump concerns about competition and consumer welfare,""
"We can only hope that the FCC will take steps to facilitate competition in other ways, such as adopting mandatory roaming requirements and mandatory cell-phone unlocking."
"Although it will be dependent on wholesale access to AT&T's network, its Boost brand can leverage the company's own 5G core, control customer relationships, and quite possibly offer better and more affordable service to millions,"
"the 2 GHz band remains ripe for sharing among next-generation satellite systems."
The FCC's threat to block spectrum transactions provoked bipartisan backlash, with the conservative Free State Foundation warning of "regulatory uncertainty" for carriers and consumer advocates warning of harm to competition and wireless users. The AT&T/EchoStar sale followed FCC Chair Carr's prioritization of immediate intensity of spectrum use over competition, prompting calls for mandatory roaming and cell-phone unlocking. The elimination of EchoStar as a facilities-based competitor is a consumer concern, though EchoStar avoids bankruptcy and can use AT&T wholesale access and the Boost brand with AT&T's 5G core to serve customers affordably. SpaceX seeks 2 GHz spectrum, while EchoStar says that would be a "land grab." Ergen says EchoStar met FCC buildout milestones before selling.
Read at Ars Technica
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