FCC Chairman backs Dish Network plan to compete with wireless giants

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed to greenlight Dish Network’s long-fought plan to create a wireless service that would compete with those of giants AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

The plan, which needs the approval of the agency’s four other commissioners, would achieve a key FCC goal of creating fresh competition to the lucrative wireless industry, which is starting to resemble a near duopoly. The proposal calls for an auction of airwaves that will be partly used as a communications network for emergency first-responders. That effort, if successful, would realize an 11-year government effort. “If approved, these actions will promote competition, investment and innovation, and advance commission efforts to unleash spectrum for mobile broadband to help meet skyrocketing consumer demand, while unlocking billions of dollars of value to the public,” FCC spokesman Neil Grace said. The FCC is expected to vote on the proposal before the end of the year.