FCC chair backs Dish Network as wireless carrier, but with a catch

The FCC's chairman is ready to support Dish Network's desire to enter the wireless market. However, the FCC is considering placing limits on the power used by Dish's network in order to prevent interference with other airwaves. And that isn't sitting too well with Dish.

"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 yesterday.

"While the FCC would grant full terrestrial rights, its proposal to lower our power and emissions levels could cripple our ability to enter the business," R. Stanton Dodge, Dish general counsel, said in a statement.

"If the FCC adopts this draft, the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) specification will likely be reopened and an FCC rulemaking will be needed for the H Block," Dodge said. "Until we know how to manage issues like interference from the H Block, we may have to put on hold activities like radio design and network build out while we wait for the H Block rulemaking and another 3GPP process to be completed."

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