October 15, 2009 Newsletter

Headlines: 

• SkyFORUM - Virtual Trade Show
• SBCA Welcomes 2010 Board Members
• Satellite Consumers Score a Win in Omaha - City Counsel Votes No on Registration Fee
• New Members

SkyFORUM - Virtual Trade Show

Mark your calendars for November 18th and join the SBCA along with many of its member companies for SkyFORUM the first virtual trade show for the satellite industry. This interactive event offers you and your employees the opportunity to hear from a number of senior executives on a variety of issues regarding the satellite industry. In addition, there will be speakers on technology, new opportunities and SBCA benefit programs. Explore exhibitors' products and programs in detail while having the ability to chat live with a sales representative. The best part is that attendance at the event is Free. Learn from industry executives without the cost of travel or taking time away from your business.  To find out more information about SkyFORUM go to www.skyforumsbca.com.  Be sure to tell you your friends, employees, contractors and colleagues to participate in this exciting event.

Current exhibitors include DIRECTV, CASE-SRS, Installs inc, Applied Instruments, PDI Sat, Superfleet and many more.

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SBCA Welcomes 2010 Board Members

The SBCA is excited to announce our 2010 Board of Directors  made up of current and new industry representatives.  The SBCA extends the deepest thanks to Tom Beaudreau of DIRECTECH and Ozzie Vilomar of LearnSatelliteDish for their service to the Board of Directors over the past year.  The 2010 Board of Directors will be made up of the following representatives:

Andrew Reinsdorf - DIRECTV

Andrew Reinsdorf is Vice President for Government Affairs for DIRECTV. He oversees the day to day lobbying of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as well as DIRECTV's advocacy in state capitols across the country.  Prior to joining DIRECTV 3 years ago, Mr. Reinsdorf held senior government affairs positions with the National Association of Broadcasters. During his tenure at NAB, he successfully lobbied on over a half-dozen major pieces of legislation that became law and favorably impacted the broadcast industry including the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.  He was a featured speaker on behalf of the association before numerous forums, conferences, and conventions. Mr. Reinsdorf has a degree in politics from Ithaca College.

Lori Kalani - DISH NETWORK

Lori Kalani serves as Director of Government Affairs and Senior Corporate Counsel at DISH Network Corporation, headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.   In her current role, Ms. Kalani’s responsibilities cover a wide range of legal issues of importance to the company including internal corporate governance, compliance, and government affairs.  Her government affairs portfolio encompasses the development and implementation of the Company’s public policy at the local, state and federal levels.  As the primary advocate for DISH Network before state governmental organizations, Ms. Kalani covers issues ranging from consumer protection to homeland security.  Ms. Kalani also represents the company on various Federal Communication Commission and industry committees.

Ms. Kalani joined DISH Network’s Washington, D.C. Government Affairs Office in 2002 and has served in several roles before her latest promotion in 2007 to Director of Government Affairs and Senior Corporate Counsel.  Prior to joining DISH Network, Ms. Kalani worked at the Federal Communications Commission, first in the Office of Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy and later in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.  Ms. Kalani received her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, her M.B.A. from the University of Nevada, and her B.S.B.A. from the University of Nevada.  She is admitted to practice law in Virginia and Colorado.

Vern Swedin – PACE International

Vern Swedin was the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of a successful national ISP that was acquired by a public company. Mr. Swedin is the catalyst and leader of several organizations, and has an extensive business and entrepreneurial background. Mr. Swedin has also been a catalyst in the development of the direct broadcast satellite market, building an organization that encompasses thousands of dealer, system operator and private cable operator locations across the U.S.  His leadership plays a key role in the growth of Pace Electronics. His role includes focusing on the development of new and existing vendor relationships, global distribution partnerships, long-term stakeholder communication and corporate leadership development.

Tom Haywood - Applied Instruments

Tom Haywood is the President and General Manager for Applied Instruments, Inc.  As such, he is responsible for the day to day operations of the company.  This includes overseeing production, materials purchasing, and technical support.  Additionally, he is directly involved in the research, design, and development of new products relevant to advancing the industry.

Mr. Haywood has worked in the telecommunications industry since 1996.  Prior to this, he owned and operated a Design-Build firm that provided architectural design services and managed Land Development projects.

Greg Frasca - Sky Web  

Greg Frasca joined SAT-Link Communications in 1993, a DBS firm, in Eatontown, NJ as the Vice President of Operations. He managed the installation of one of New Jersey’s first DIRECTV systems as a beta test for then RCA/Thompson. When AT&T decided to enter the industry in 1996, the telecommunications giant actively recruited Mr. Frasca. At AT&T, Mr. Frasca was largely responsible for the initial introduction of DBS technology to the company. Among his personal clients were Henry Kissinger and many of the CEO’s of the fortune 100 companies.

Subsequent to AT&T’s significant investment in acquiring the nation’s largest cable company at the time (TCI), the DBS program was shelved and Mr. Frasca decided to leave to found Sky Web, Inc in late 1997. Sky Web, located in Central New Jersey is now the regional leader in the provisioning of Commercial Satellite systems and programming in the NJ/NY Metro market.

C. Scott Hisey – UniTek USA

With over 20 years of telecommunications executive management experience, Scott is a proven leader with a record of success. As the founder of UniTek USA, Scott is responsible for its overall executive management. UniTek USA is a provider of telecommunications services with over 5,000 skilled technicians working throughout the United States and Canada.

Scott began his telecommunications career in the United States Navy where he served as a Telecommunications Technician and was later Honorably Discharged as a Disabled Veteran. Prior to founding UniTek USA, Scott was the Chief Operating Officer for a major telecommunications services provider.

Previously, Scott served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of AM Communications, Inc. where he was responsible for three strategic acquisitions and the formation of AM's Broadband Services Division. In addition, Scott served as Chief Operating Officer of Global Communications and was a consultant in several cable network builds.

Michael Scherr – CASE-SRS Distribution

Michael Scherr is President of CASE-SRS Distribution.  In 1996 after college, Mr. Scherr began his career in the satellite industry.  As manager of TeleWire Supply’s Satellite division Mr. Scherr grew division sales to over $25 Million.  In 2003, Mr. Scherr joined CASE INC. to become a partner and major stakeholder.  Over the next three years, Mr. Scherr and his team grew CASE INC. into a successful distributor to the satellite industry. 

In 2006, CASE INC. was acquired by STEREN Electronics International, LLC, a multinational provider of communications and interconnect products to the CATV, Satellite and Telco industries.   At acquisition, CASE, INC.  was merged with Steren’s Signal Reception Solutions (SRS), a distributor of Satellite and Structured Wiring products, and Mr. Scherr was made a partner in CASE-SRS Distribution and serves as its President.  CASE-SRS Distribution is headquartered in Englewood, CO and has additional major distribution centers in California and Tennessee.  Currently Mr. Scherr is a member of the SBCA leadership council. 

Dave Robison – DSI Systems

Dave Robison has led DSI Systems from a one man retail satellite location to national multi-channel distributor with 380 employees and 31 locations. Mr. Robison moved into his role as Chief Executive Officer of DSI in 2000, and continues to share day to day responsibilities with his brother, Doug Robison, President.

In 1985, Diamond Systems Inc. became DSI Distributing as the Robisons transitioned the company from a retail location to a wholesale business. The second location in Dallas was opened in 1987, and was run by Doug Robison.

In 1984, Mr. Robison and his father, Buck Robison, founded Diamond Systems Inc. as a satellite retailer and installation company in Des Moines, IA. The business began as a true family business.

Lee. H. Hess – INSTALLS inc

Lee Hess is co-founder and Chairman of INSTALLS inc, LLC.  INSTALLS is a national installer of home services covering all continental zip codes. It serves the customers of major retailers including Best Buy, Costco, Dell and The Home Depot.  Previously, the company owned exclusive DIRECTV programming territories in ten states.

Prior to  INSTALLS, Mr. Hess was senior vice president of Wendy’s International directing the development of the national franchising network, real estate, and corporate finance. In addition, he was previously a McDonald’s franchisee in New York.

Mr. Hess is an active member of the advisory boards of COSI; the University of Michigan School of Information, The Library Technology Council, The Ohio State University Center for Real Estate Education and Research, GroundWork group; and the Leadership Council of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association.

Mr. Hess has an MBA from Harvard, an MA in Communications from Stanford, and a BA from the University of Michigan.

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Satellite Consumers Score a Win in Omaha - City Counsel Votes No on Registration Fee

In September, after hearing from outraged local residents, the Omaha City Council voted 6-0 not to move forward a proposal that would have required new and existing satellite television subscribers to pay a $50 registration fee and impose inspection requirements on all satellite TV installations in Omaha, including a renewal requirement every three years.  A large number of industry representatives from both platforms where in attendance at the City Council hearing as well as SBCA Executive Director, Joe Widoff, who met with members of the City Council prior to the vote.

The industry made a successful argument that the proposed ordinance is in violation of the FCC’s Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule – which preempts any state and local laws as well as community association rules that impair installation, maintenance or use of a protected antenna by: unreasonably delaying or preventing installation, maintenance or use; unreasonably increasing the cost of installation, maintenance, or use; or precluding reception of an acceptable quality signal.

Defeating this proposed ordinance is a big win for satellite television’s continued competition against cable in the video services market in Omaha and sets valuable precedent across the country.

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