FCC MDU Ruling Significant Opportunity for DBS

Washington, D.C., March 19, 2008 -- The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) announced that a recent FCC ruling is a significant opportunity for DBS to gain market share.

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has denied the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's Motion for Stay of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) November 13, 2007 Order.

In that Order, the FCC determined that the prospective use of exclusivity provisions in MDU agreements by either incumbent cable operators or by telephone companies entering the video business should be prohibited. The FCC's Order also concluded that those same parties could not enforce exclusivity clauses in existing MDU access agreements.

The issue of whether the FCC reached an appropriate conclusion remains before the Court, but the FCC's Order will become and remain effective during that review.

“This change in policy coupled with delivery methods, technology, and more HDTV content than ever before, will mean more cost effective opportunities to expand DBS services into MDU’s across the USA. This will definitely change the landscape, level the playing field, and allow more operators’ access to all types of properties unavailable in the past to DBS providers,” stated Jason Cohen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PDI-SAT.

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