AT&T and Dish Network likely avoided a negative outcome in...
AT&T and Dish Network likely avoided a negative outcome in reaching agreements to address some of the FCC’s concerns in the lower 700 MHz band and 1.9 GHz H-band block auction objectives, Stifel Nicolaus analysts said. The companies “maybe even…
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turned things to their advantage by creating opportunities for spectrum gains and new deals,” they said in a research note. AT&T and small carriers reached a settlement on interoperability in the lower 700 MHz band last week (CD Sept 11 p1). Dish offered to consent to a reduction of effective radiated power of base stations for its lower 700 MHz E-block licenses and an H-block bid of about $1.6 billion if the FCC grants it AWS-4 flexibility (CD Sept 13 p13). Sprint seems to be the one major player that could be hurt by Dish’s bid offer in the H-block auction, “though even Sprint could benefit if it wins that spectrum and Dish is allowed to convert its adjacent AWS-4 spectrum to a downlink, reducing interference issues,” the analysts said. AT&T also gained Dish’s agreement for stricter E-block power limits, they said. That could facilitate AT&T’s ability to buy into the A block, “where Verizon could be an interested seller, and it also could facilitate an AT&T purchase of Dish’s E-block spectrum,” they said.