FCC wireless chief peppers Dish with wireless network buildout questions

The head of the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless bureau fired a wide range of questions at Dish Network about the carrier’s wireless network buildout plans. Importantly, the FCC’s Donald Stockdale stated that “I am contacting you to request updates and more detailed information on your buildout plans for the 53 megahertz of low- and mid-band spectrum that is apparently lying fallow in these bands.” The implication of Stockdale’s questions is that the FCC may begin to take action against Dish for collecting spectrum licenses but not using them. In his letter to Dish, Stockdale noted that Dish told the FCC earlier in 2018 that it had not met the applicable interim construction deadline for its AWS-4 licenses, its 700 MHz Lower E Block licenses and its H Block licenses. As a result, Stockdale asked Dish to provide a wide range of specifics about how exactly it will build out a wireless network using its vast spectrum holdings. Stockdale asked for details on Dish’s buildout plans, technology choices, coverage area plans, handset strategies, and any additional delays that the company may encounter as it runs up against the FCC’s spectrum license buildout requirements.