SBCA INTRODUCES TWO NEW EDUCATION COURSES; NSTP RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION COURSE NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

 ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 13, 2003 – The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association announced today that it’s Education Department has begun selling print versions of the courses debuted during last month’s Retailer Rally, and that it’s National Standards and Testing Program has issued a Spanish-translation of the Residential Installation Training Course.

“Advanced Set Top Box Products” is aimed at educating installers, retailers and consumers about the current products that will drive DBS subscriber growth into the future: HDTV, digital video recorders (DVR), and interactive television (iTV). The course breaks down the sometimes confusing technical information and puts it into terms that are easy to understand, no matter the level of technical expertise.

The second education course, “Satellite Delivered Consumer Product Overview,” was originally titled “SBCA Sales and Marketing” during the Rally. This course explores the three satellite-delivered consumer products within the U.S. market: satellite delivered video, radio, and broadband. Within each category, the course details a basic technology overview, state of the industry, programming, new satellite products, and ancillary products. This course covers a significant amount of market research and details the historic growth of the industry as well as future subscriber projections.

Both courses are now available to purchase in print version online at www.sbcatest.com.

“These new courses offer retailers a way to improve their knowledge and increase their chances for success in business,” said Buddy Davis, president of Davis Antenna of Waldorf, MD. “I took both the courses and found them to be valuable business tools.” Davis is a member of SBCA’s Board of Directors, Retail Council, and is the chairman of the SBCA Zoning, Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions working group.

The NSTP, working in conjunction with several SBCA members, translated its Residential Installation training course into Spanish, in response to the increased demand from Spanish-speaking installers and new DBS customers. Interested parties may purchase a copy of the manual in Spanish online at www.sbcatest.com. Several SBCA NSTP trainers offer the Residential Installation training course and NSTP certification exam in Spanish. For more information, check out the dates and locations page for the NSTP program at www.sbcatest.com/testdate.htm

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.