STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO FCC ADOPTION OF “PLUG-AND–PLAY” AGREEMENT

ALEXANDRIA, VA., September 10, 2003 – For attribution to the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, in response to the Federal Communications Commission adoption of the cable-consumer electronics “plug-and-play” agreement:

“We regret that the Commission did not heed the requests that SBCA and the DBS providers made in numerous filings and documents that detailed reasonable alternatives other than what the cable and consumer electronics industries dictated.

 

“Without reasonable explanation, the DBS industry was not part of the “plug-and-play” agreement deliberations. The exclusion of the SBCA and its member companies from the negotiation process only limits all players in the MVPD market to a lower cable standard, instead of raising the standards and quality of cable to those of the DBS industry. The Commission should not have taken any action or imposed regulations until it took into consideration all of the diverse interests and the repercussions to those interests involved in such regulation.

 

“We do not consider today’s misguided decision the end of the process and will not allow the cable industry to believe it has scored another victory. SBCA and its member companies will fully review the Order and leave open our options.”

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 comprised 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.