T-Mobile, MetroPCS want Dish to give up 50% of its spectrum

T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS are pushing the Federal Communications Commission to take back half of Dish Network's 2 GHz spectrum holdings in exchange for allowing the company to use the remainder for terrestrial broadband service.

Dish holds 40 MHz of S-Band mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum -- specifically from 2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 -- and is seeking FCC waivers that would enable it to use the spectrum for a terrestrial LTE-Advanced network. In separate filings with the FCC, T-Mobile and MetroPCS both contended the waivers should be conditional upon Dish giving up 20 MHz of its spectrum for reauctioning by the FCC. Further, both operators argued such a move is necessary to prevent Dish from enjoying a "windfall," apparently in reference to profits it might see if it were to sell all or part of its S-Band frequencies to a large mobile operator such as AT&T Mobility or Verizon Wireless.