The FCC has announced that it has granted Special Temporary Authority (STA) to AT&T, a move which allows the wireless carrier to use additional spectrum in the AWS-4 Band to help meet increased customer demand for broadband during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, AT&T will be able to use the AWS-4 Band spectrum held by Gamma Acquisition LLC and DBSD Corporation (both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Dish Network Corporation) for a period of 60 days in markets throughout the United States. As of Monday, March 23, 2020, AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, and T-Mobile (which plans to merge later this year with Sprint Corp.) are using fallow 600 MHz Band, AWS-3 Band, and AWS-4 Band spectrum held by other FCC licensees, including Dish Network, which intends to launch its own nationwide 5G-only network by 2023.
