Dish affiliates to return some airwaves won at US auction

New York

DISH Network Corp affiliates will surrender some airwaves licences won at an auction after the Federal Communications Commission denied them a US$3.3 billion small-business discount, complicating co-founder Charlie Ergen's plans to stockpile frequencies and enter the wireless business.

The two entities - SNR Wireless LicenseCo LLC and Northstar Wireless LLC - will retain a combined 505 licences valued at almost US$10 billion, and pay a US$413 million penalty for 197 licences they'll give up, according to filings released on Thursday by the FCC. Dish confirmed the decisions in a separate statement.