---
title: "FCC Approval of EchoStar Spectrum Sale Is a Win for Consumers, Says ITIF"
summary: |-
  Following the FCC's approval of EchoStar's sale of spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, ITIF’s director of broadband and spectrum policy.
date: "2026-05-12"
content_type: "Press Releases"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2026/05/12/fcc-approval-of-echostar-spectrum-sale-is-a-win-for-consumers/"
---

# FCC Approval of EchoStar Spectrum Sale Is a Win for Consumers, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON—Following the FCC's approval of EchoStar's sale of spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, ITIF’s director of broadband and spectrum policy:

> *This spectrum sale is a win for consumers and spectrum productivity. The best use of spectrum changes over time, and secondary-market transactions for flexible spectrum rights are a key mechanism for moving spectrum into the hands of those who can use it most productively.*

> *This approval also shows that the old regulatory silos separating terrestrial and satellite spectrum are breaking down. Consumers benefit when spectrum uses can shift with demand instead of being locked into rigid regulatory categories. This flexibility leads to better service and faster deployment of new technologies.*

---
*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2026/05/12/fcc-approval-of-echostar-spectrum-sale-is-a-win-for-consumers/*