SBCA Kicks-Off Annual Retailer Membership Drive

President DalBello Spoke at Team Summit on the Importance of Retailers to the Association

** Click Here to Read Prepared Remarks**

Alexandria, Va., May 24, 2004 – The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association announced the kick-off of their annual drive to recruit and retain retailer members. Richard DalBello, president of SBCA, spoke Saturday morning at EchoStar’s Team Summit meeting in Dallas, Texas on the critical role retailers play in SBCA.

“Retailers are this industry’s face to the public,” said DalBello. “You are a key factor in the DBS story and a primary reason that DBS enjoys the amazing customer satisfaction numbers that it consistently posts versus our wired competition. It is important to us at SBCA to make sure you have a voice in this industry. When you have concerns we want to make sure you have an outlet to have them heard.”

SBCA currently has over 500 retail members. With a membership to SBCA retailers not only become a part of the national consumer satellite industry community, but they also have the opportunity to get involved in grassroots government relations actions headed by the association, as well as access to educational programs offered by the SBCA’s National Standards and Testing Program (NSTP). NSTP is the benchmark in satellite installation and technology education in the industry.

Since NSTP’s inception in 2001, more than 30,000 satellite technicians have been trained and tested through its Residential and Level 3 Commercial Installation Certification courses. SBCA’s NSTP program, which was agreed to by the major satellite service providers, was designed to serve as a self-regulating program which will allow the industry to retain its edge in customer satisfaction and service. NSTP certifies that installers have passed standardized testing developed by the SBCA and industry leaders. Certification is good for a period of two years, and by becoming an SBCA member, retailers can utilize discounts on the certification program.

“NSTP courses are the only industry-wide certification programs. Retailers and individual installers greatly benefit by improving their technical knowledge, and with this they increase their chance of success in business,” said DalBello.

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, 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. Additional information can be found at www.sbca.com.