NEWS	For Immediate Release Contact:  James Ashurst, SBCA (703) 739-8351 jashurst@sbca.org

SBCA SAYS ECHOSTAR/DIRECTV LOCAL CHANNEL PLAN WOULD BE A “TREMENDOUS WIN FOR CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE”

ALEXANDRIA, VA, February 26, 2002 – Today, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) President Andy Wright, issued the following statement in response to the EchoStar/DIRECTV “Local Channels, All Americans” plan:

“Today EchoStar and DIRECTV announced that, when their merger is approved, they are committed to making the significant investment necessary to provide all Americans with all of their local channels via satellite under a single national pricing plan.  The merged company also plans to make other services such as high-speed Internet access via satellite, interactive and high-definition television available to all Americans regardless of where they live.  Today, approximately 42 million TV households do not have the option to receive local channels via satellite, and as such, those consumers have little or no choice of local television providers.  Congress, the FCC, this industry and the SBCA have worked for more than a decade to create true competition to the entrenched cable monopoly.  This plan to provide nationwide local-into-local and to deliver other valuable services would help reach this goal by eliminating a significant roadblock to true competition.  This would be a tremendous win for consumers nationwide.”  

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association of America (SBCA) is the national trade organization representing all segments of the satellite industry.  It is committed to expanding the utilization of satellite technology for the broadcast delivery of video, data, music, voice, interactive and broadband services.  The SBCA is composed of DBS, C-band, broadband, satellite radio, and other satellite service providers, content providers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retailers, encryption vendors, and national and regional distribution companies, that make up the consumer satellite services industry.  

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