President Donald Trump held talks last week with EchoStar founder Charles Ergen to resolve the company's public dispute over spectrum licenses with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

As reported by Bloomberg late last week, Trump held talks with Ergen a couple of days after Ergen finally got the chance to meet with FCC Chair Brendan Carr.

Carr told EchoStar last month that the FCC would review EchoStar's usage of its 5G and 2GHz satellite spectrum.

Since launching the investigation, EchoStar has very publicly voiced its concerns, noting that it could be made bankrupt if it were to lose the licenses.

The company, owned by Ergen, has defended its position ever since, pointing to the fact that it has deployed more than 24,000 5G sites, invested billions of dollars in its commercial network build, has 1.3 million subscribers, and is in the process of migrating its remaining six million subscribers.

Despite this, EchoStar chose not to make a $326 million cash interest payment, as it argues that the FCC's inquiry "threatens its viability as a wireless provider."

Last week, recently departed FCC commissioner Nathan Simington also slammed the agency over its treatment of EchoStar, calling the proceedings "dangerous."

Bloomberg reports that EchoStar's Ergen met in person with Carr last week. Ergen had previously claimed that he had unsuccessfully sought a sit-down chat since September.

During the meeting, Carr informed EchoStar that it needs to start selling some of its spectrum licenses, reported Bloomberg, or risk losing them.

Trump talks

The following day, Ergen met with Donald Trump at the White House to stake his company's case.

During the meeting, Trump called Carr, who came to the Oval Office and joined the meeting.

Sources told Bloomberg that discussions included a quick chat about Ergen’s political donations and whether he gave to both Republican and Democrat candidates.

Trump reportedly said he didn't want to see a major US company go bankrupt, citing potential uncertainties for other businesses. The meeting ended with Trump encouraging the two to find a deal.

Following reports of the meeting with Trump, shares in EchoStar jumped by as much as 50 percent yesterday (June 16).

EchoStar acquired its Boost Mobile business as part of Dish Network’s role in the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, completed in 2021.

In 2023, Dish Network merged with EchoStar, leading to Boost Mobile becoming the brand name of the company's mobile network.

EchoStar was spun out from Dish back in 2008, as Dish held onto the TV business while shedding the satellite infrastructure that beamed content into them.

The re-merger between the two combined Dish's Pay-TV business and its 5G wireless network with EchoStar's satellite communications solutions.