EchoStar asks the FCC to reverse an order excluding its own claims from a $2.4 billion trust

EchoStar wants the Federal Communications Commission to undo a Bureau order that narrows who can collect from a $2.4 billion trust. EchoStar funded the trust from the closing of its AT&T spectrum transaction, and Bureau orders in the AT&T and SpaceX license-assignment proceedings established it. According to EchoStar, the Bureau's July 30, 2026 Order purports to "clarify what should be obvious": a claim for repayment of money provided to DISH Wireless or other EchoStar subsidiaries or affiliates does not qualify as a Fund Claim on the trust. It also orders EchoStar and the Trustee to modify the trust terms to explicitly exclude claims of EchoStar or its subsidiaries from payment.

EchoStar argues the original orders "do not limit the filing of trust claims to only third parties," and that the change violates the Administrative Procedure Act and interferes with its settled expectations. GN Docket 25-302 holds 57 filings from 28 distinct parties, including SpaceX and a creditors' committee for DISH entities.

"Nothing in the AT&T-EchoStar Order, the SpaceX-EchoStar Order, or the trust agreement created pursuant to those orders precludes the payment of trust funds to EchoStar and its subsidiaries."

— Jeffrey Blum, EchoStar Corporation, FCC docket 25-302

Sources: Application for Review → · Orbit Sentinel (docket 25-302)