v3.25.2
Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies  
Summary of Wireless Spectrum Licenses

Build-Out Deadlines

Final

Carrying Amount

Interim

Accelerated License Areas

Extension License Areas

Expiration Date

(In thousands)

Owned:

DBS Licenses (1)

$

677,409

700 MHz Licenses (2)(3)

701,803

December 31, 2024 (4)

June 14, 2025 (7)

June 2033

600 MHz Licenses

6,192,575

December 31, 2024 (5)

June 14, 2025 (8)

June 2029

LMDS Licenses (1)(3)

September 2028

28 GHz Licenses (3)

2,883

October 2, 2029 (9)

October 2029

24 GHz Licenses (3)

11,772

December 11, 2029 (9)

December 2029

37 GHz, 39 GHz and 47 GHz Licenses (3)

202,392

June 4, 2030 (9)

June 2030

3.7-3.98 GHz Licenses (3)

2,969

July 23, 2029 (9)

July 23, 2033 (9)

July 2036

3.45–3.55 GHz Licenses (3)

6,073,432

May 4, 2026 (10)

May 4, 2030 (10)

May 2037

1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz (2)

972

March 2026

AWS-3

5,557,828

December 31, 2024 (6)

October 25, 2025 (11)

October 2025 (11)

Subtotal owned

19,424,035

Noncontrolling Investments:

SNR

4,271,459

December 31, 2024 (6)

October 2025 (11)

October 2025 (11)

Capitalized Interest (12)

7,289,803

Total Regulatory authorizations, net

$

30,985,297

Leased from EchoStar (13):

AWS-4 Licenses (2)

$

1,928,688

December 31, 2024 (4)

June 14, 2025 (7)

June 2033

H Block Licenses (2)

1,671,506

December 31, 2024 (4)

June 14, 2025 (14)

June 2033

MVDDS Licenses (1)

24,000

July, August, September 2034

3550-3650 MHz Licenses

912,200

March 12, 2031 (9)

March 2031

3.45–3.55 GHz Licenses (3)

1,255,661

May 4, 2026 (10)

May 4, 2030 (10)

May 2037

Total Leased from EchoStar

$

5,792,055

(1)The build-out deadlines for these licenses have been met.
(2)The interim build-out deadlines for these licenses are in the past.
(3)See above for further information on the Wireless Spectrum License Exchange.
(4)In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we were offering 5G broadband service for certain of these license areas to at least 85% of the population in each Economic Area (which is a service area established by the FCC), and offering 5G broadband service for certain other licenses to at least 80% of the population in each Economic Area by this date (part of Commitments #2 and #3 of the September 2024 FCC Extension Request “Extension Request”). These licenses are set forth in Appendices A and D of the Extension Request. Under the Extension Request, if we successfully fulfill Commitments #2 and #3, the final construction deadline for the AWS-4 licenses, the AWS H Block licenses, and the Lower 700 MHz E Block licenses listed in Appendix G-1 of the Extension Request shall be extended from June 14, 2025 to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.

(5)In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we were offering 5G broadband service for certain of these license areas to at least 85% of the population in each Partial Economic Area (which is a service area established by the FCC), and offering 5G broadband service for certain other licenses to at least 80% of the population in each Partial Economic Area by this date (part of Commitments #2 and #3 of the Extension Request). These licenses are set forth in Appendices B and E of the Extension Request. Under the Extension Request, if we successfully fulfill Commitments #2 and #3, the final construction deadline for the 600 MHz licenses listed in Appendix G-2 of the Extension Request shall be extended from June 14, 2025 to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.
(6)In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we were offering reliable signal coverage for certain of these license areas and offering service for certain accelerated licenses to at least 85% of the population of each license area and for certain other accelerated licenses to at least 80% of the population of each license area by this date (part of Commitments #2 and #3 the Extension Request). These accelerated licenses are set forth in Appendices C and F of the Extension Request. Under the Extension Request, if we successfully fulfill Commitment #2 and Commitment #3, the final construction deadlines for the AWS-3 licenses listed in Appendix G-3 of the Extension Request shall be extended from June 14, 2025 to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.
(7)For the 700 MHz and AWS-4 licenses set forth in Appendix G-1 of the Extension Request, we have certified to meeting the accelerated build-out obligations described in footnotes 4, 5 and 6 herein (thus fulfilling Commitments #2 and #3 of the Extension Request), and as a result the final deadline for us to offer 5G broadband service to at least 70% of the population in each Economic Area (which is a service area established by the FCC) with respect to these licenses shall be extended to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. Under the Extension Request, the final construction deadline shall be further extended to June 14, 2028, if: by December 31, 2024, we have offered 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population; and, by June 14, 2025 (a) we have offered a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide; (b) we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites; (c) we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17; and (d) we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that, as of December 31, 2024: (i) we were offering 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population and (ii) we were offering a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide. In a March 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17. In a May 5, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites. In a June 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.

(8)For the 600 MHz licenses set forth in Appendix G-2 of the Extension Request, we have certified to meeting the accelerated build-out obligations described in footnotes 4, 5 and 6 herein (thus fulfilling Commitments #2 and #3 of the Extension Request), and as a result the final deadline for us to offer 5G broadband service to at least 75% of the population in each Partial Economic Area (which is a service area established by the FCC) with respect to these licenses shall be extended to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. Under the Extension Request, the final construction deadline shall be further extended to June 14, 2028, if: by December 31, 2024, we have offered 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population; and, by June 14, 2025 (a) we have offered a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide; (b) we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites; (c) we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17; and (d) we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that, as of December 31, 2024: (i) we were offering 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population and (ii) we were offering a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide. In a March 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17. In a May 5, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites. In a June 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.
(9)There are a variety of build-out options and associated build-out metrics associated with these licenses.
(10)There are a variety of build-out options and associated build-out metrics associated with these licenses. If the interim build-out requirement is not met, the final build-out requirement may be accelerated by one year from May 2030 to May 2029.
(11)For the AWS-3 licenses set forth in Appendix G-3 of the Extension Request, we have certified to meeting the accelerated build-out obligations described in footnotes 4, 5 and 6 herein (thus fulfilling Commitments #2 and #3 of the Extension Request), and as a result the final deadline for us to offer reliable signal coverage to at least 75% of the population in each license area with respect to these licenses shall be extended to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. Under the Extension Request, the final construction deadline shall be further extended to June 14, 2028, if: by December 31, 2024, we have offered reliable signal coverage to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population; and, by June 14, 2025 (a) we have offered a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide; (b) we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites; (c) we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17; and (d) we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that, as of December 31, 2024: (i) we were offering reliable signal coverage to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population and (ii) we were offering a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide. In a March 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17. In a May 5, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites. In a June 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.
(12)See Note 2 for further information.
(13)See Note 12 for Related Party Transactions with EchoStar.

(14)For the H-Block licenses set forth in Appendix G-1 of the Extension Request, we have certified to meeting the accelerated build-out obligations described in footnotes 3, 4 and 10 herein (thus fulfilling Commitments #2 and #3 of the Extension Request), and as a result the final deadline for us to offer 5G broadband service to at least 75% of the population in each Economic Area (which is a service area established by the FCC) with respect to these licenses shall be extended to December 14, 2026. While the FCC has not yet updated the build-out deadlines in the Universal Licensing System, the licenses remain in effect based upon the submission of our build-out certifications. Under the Extension Request, the final construction deadline shall be further extended to June 14, 2028, if: by December 31, 2024, we have offered 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population and, by June 14, 2025 (a) we have offered a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide; (b) we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites; (c) we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17; and (d) we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. In a January 10, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that, as of December 31, 2024: (i) we were offering 5G broadband service to, at least, 80% of the U.S. population and (ii) we were offering a low-cost 5G broadband plan and device to consumers nationwide. In a March 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have upgraded our deployed 5G sites to 3GPP Release 17. In a May 5, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have deployed at least 24,000 5G sites. In a June 17, 2025 filing to the FCC, we certified that we have provisioned at least 75% of new subscribers with an EchoStar-certified 5G device on our MNO network if the subscriber is within the accelerated markets as set forth in Appendices A-F of the Extension Request. See Note 1 “Recent Developments” for additional information.