FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DEFRANCO JAMES   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP [DISH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 11/14/2006 (Street) ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006   S(1)   10,000 D $ 35.93 4,702,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.16 4,697,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.18 4,692,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.26 4,687,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/14/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.27 4,682,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.24 4,677,572 D   Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.39 4,672,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.64 4,667,527 D   Class A Common Stock 11/15/2006   S(1)   5,000 D $ 36.69 4,662,527 D   Class A Common Stock               50,000 I I (2) Class A Common Stock               8,183 I I (3) Class A Common Stock               2,250,000 I I (4) Class A Common Stock               18,412 I I (5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DEFRANCO JAMES 9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112	X		Executive Vice President

Signatures

/s/ James DeFranco, by Robert Rehg, his Attorney in Fact		11/15/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The shares reported on this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
(2)	The shares are held by the reporting person in an irrevocable trust for the benefit of the reporting person's minor children and grandchildren. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares.
(3)	The shares are being held by the reporting person as custodian for his minor children.
(4)	The shares are held by DeFranco Investments Co., Ltd., a general partnership, of which the reporting person is sole general partner.
(5)	By 401(k).

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