SBCA EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN AND DISAPPOINTMENT OVER FCC DECISION TO ALLOW SHARING IN THE DBS FREQUENCY BAND

ALEXANDRIA, VA, November 30, 2000 - The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) issued the following statement today in response to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to allow sharing by terrestrial wireless services in the direct broadcast satellite (DBS) frequency band. SBCA President Chuck Hewitt said:

"It is incomprehensible to us that the FCC would decide to allow sharing of the DBS frequency band by terrestrial wireless services. It is inconceivable that the Commission would risk the success and future growth of DBS by allowing these services to share the spectrum. Since its inception in 1994, nearly 15 million consumers have chosen DBS technology as their preferred method of multichannel video reception. Congress and the FCC worked very hard to establish greater competition in the multichannel video marketplace, and because of this, DBS emerged as a true competitor to cable. This decision stands to thwart that policy. Furthermore, there is already spectrum available for use by these types of technology."

"The Congress has already expressed its desire to see independent testing of terrestrial microwave services take place. It is imperative that any service that seeks to operate in the DBS frequency band be tested by an independent entity, under the supervision of the Commission."

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, voice, and interactive and broadband services. The SBCA is composed of DBS, broadband, and other satellite service providers, programmers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retailers, encryption vendors, and national and regional distribution companies.

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 and voice services. The SBCA is composed of DBS and other satellite service providers, programmers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retailers, encryption vendors, and national and regional distribution companies.