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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * HAN BERNARD L   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP [DISH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP & Chief Financial Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 09/30/2006 (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

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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

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 32.74

09/30/2006

A

90,000

(1)

09/30/2016

Class A Common Stock

90,000

$ 0

90,000

D

Restricted Stock Units

(2)

09/30/2006

A

30,000

(3)

09/30/2016

Class A Common Stock

30,000

$ 0

30,000

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 32.74

09/30/2006

A

350,000

(4)

09/30/2016

Class A Common Stock

350,000

$ 0

350,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HAN BERNARD L 9601 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112			EVP & Chief Financial Officer

Signatures

/s/ Bernard L. Han, by Brandon Ehrhart, his Attorney in Fact		10/02/2006
**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 grant is subject to achievement of certain performance criteria and will vest at the rate of 10% per year commencing September 30, 2007 until September 30, 2010, and then at the rate of 20% per year thereafter.
(2)	Each unit converts upon vesting into one share of stock, which will be issued to the reporting person immediately upon vesting.
(3)	The grant is subject to achievement of certain performance criteria and will vest at the rate of 10% per year commencing September 30, 2007 until September 30, 2010 and then at the rate of 20% per year thereafter.
(4)	The option vests at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on September 30, 2007.

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