STATEMENT OF SBCA RETAIL CHAIRMAN JIM STEPHEN

CELEBRATING 20 MILLION SATELLITE SUBSCRIBERS

ALEXANDRIA, VA., August 20, 2003 – For attribution to Jim Stephen, chairman of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association’s Retail Council, and president of INTERTECH Digital Entertainment of Lockport, NY, in response to today’s announcement that 20.36 million U.S. households subscribe to direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television services.

The success of the DBS industry is due in no small part to the dedicated retailers and installers across this country that have contributed to the growth and popularity of Dish Network and DirecTV since they first launched in the mid-1990’s. Satellite retailers and installers work each day across this country as the local face of our industry helping to insure its continued growth through high customer satisfaction. We are committed to doing our part to help the industry reach 10 million more homes within the decade.

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association 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, audio, 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 satellite services industry. SBCA oversees the industry’s National Standards and Testing Program (NSTP), a self-regulating training and testing curriculum for installation professionals. Additional information can be found at www.sbca.com.