January 21, 2009 Newsletter
2008 Report and 2009 Plans
As 2008 comes to a close we have experienced a turbulent year full of challenges and an upcoming year equally daunting. We are also presented, however, with exciting opportunities created through the efforts of our dedicated staff, board and association membership. We want to begin by thanking you all for your support. This is the strength that will help us continue to protect and grow a vibrant consumer market for the satellite industry and its ever more vital association.
Ours is a proven growth industry in an extremely uncertain economy. We have an involved membership that supports our communities with exciting careers and technological advances to provide superior entertainment, quality programming and data products to discerning family viewers that want a better alternative.
We expect to end 2008 with an operating budget close to balanced even though we experienced a shortfall in certain revenue categories. We are well positioned for 2009 with DISH Network launching SBCA certification of all in-house technicians as of the end of 2008 and continuing on an ongoing basis, and poised to launch certification of all retailer based technicians through the DISH U retailer site by the 3rd quarter of 2009.
We issued SBCA certifications to over 13,000 technicians in 2008 and expect we will come closer to 20,000 certifications in 2009 with the addition of DISH in-house and third-party technicians. In addition, we will be initiating some online courses on MFH-2 technology for DIRECTV.
We have increased our commitment to public policy and outreach activities by 80% from 2008. We are making major efforts at the state level involving licensing and tax issues, and we have already seen an uptick of activities in these areas given the serious economic issues facing the states. Work which began in 2008 in Minnesota and Ohio will carry over into 2009 along with renewed efforts in Wyoming, Utah and Georgia. We have hired an experienced state government affairs professional to spearhead our efforts and you can expect an increase in activity and information this year.
Our other major effort in 2009 will be to enhance our member benefits which will also result in the addition of new members—particularly at the retail level, and increased marketing and communications activities. Some of our goals in this area include:
- Rebuild SBCA websites to assure maximum use, visibility & effectiveness.
- Update SBCA web content.
- Plan and implement at least two SBCA Road Shows.
- Develop and implement a marketing and communications plan.
- Develop and implement business development plans that will bring in additional member related revenue for new or expanded services.
- Meet with all sales reps through DISH or DIRECTV sponsorship to encourage them to promote SBCA in their sales calls.
- Meet with ALL large 3rd party contractors to encourage membership.
- Meet with ALL key distributors and manufacturers and get non-members to join.
- Meet with key senior executives of platform providers to promote the association and solicit input.
- Reestablish Retailers Council, establish Contractor Council and Technology Committee.
- Planning and implementation of annual industry leadership event which will have positive net margin to SBCA. Kick off event in 2010.
- Attend distributor meetings in order to discuss SBCA benefits to retailers.
2008 was a year of transition, planning and capacity building. We look to 2009 as a year of growth and accomplishment. We look forward to working with you.
Member Spotlight - Pace International
About Pace International
Leading, Simplifying, and Supporting
Pace International is an industry-leading national distributor of hardware, content and installation tools for communications companies in the multiplatform industry. As an authorized distributor for DISH Network®, the company offers the full lineup of DISH Network hardware and content to operators. Pace carries the industry's most recognized product manufacturers and a private label product line. The company offers end-to-end hardware and content solutions for PCOs, REITs, retailers, property owners, operators, and telcos targeting triple play communities. Turn-key services include system design, technical support, "Built, Balanced, and Burned" analog and QAM headends, billing, and customer support. The company provides its proprietary MVP™ (Master Vendor Procurement) services to Fortune 100 clients in the consumer electronics industry. Founded in 1972, Pace International operates from its headquarters in Rochester, Minnesota, and through facilities in Denver, Colorado and Ningbo, China. For more information visit www.paceintl.com, or call 1-800-444-PACE (7223).
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Lisa McCabe New Public Policy & Outreach Contact for Members
I am happy to join SBCA as the Director of Public Policy and Outreach. I have over 17 years of experience in telecommunications policy and government relations, most recently in government affairs for Sprint Nextel. I am excited to be a part of the association and to assist SBCA in effectively advocating at the state and local levels for the industry in assuring reasonable regulation and opposing discriminatory taxation, providing community education regarding certification and standards setting and assisting in bringing together manufacturers and distributors with their customers.
Additionally in 2009, I will be working on our expanded outreach efforts to continue to educate Home Owners associations and Apartment Owners as well as to other organizations regarding satellite television and the issues important to our members.
If you have an issue you would like me to address, please contact me Lisa McCabe at lmccabe@satellite.org or 202-349-3640.
Member News: Bulk TV & Internet and Hocking College Team Up for On-Campus Television Services
Hocking Technical College has selected Bulk TV & Internet to provide DIRECTV television programming services to Downhor Hall and North Dormitory, two dormitories located on the Nelsonville, Ohio campus.
Hocking College is the largest technical college in the state and has received more national and Program Excellence Awards than any other two-year college in Ohio. Bulk TV’s superior DIRECTV satellite services are essential as part of the quality amenities Hocking chose to make available for on-campus living.
Click here to view full press release
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NEW MEMBERS
Listed below are SBCA's newest members that have joined over the past month that we would like to welcome to the Association:
Broadband Telecom Services
Aledo, TX
Coit Com Satellite Services
Redwood City, CA
Data Stream Communication
Columbus, OH
Galaxy 1 Marketing
Bettendorf, IA
Live Wire Communications
Wentzville, MO
NTS Connections
Columbia, SC
David Griffin
Dennis R. Adams
Paul Kelsey
CONTRACTOR BOARD
A beta version of the Contractor Board can be found on the SBCA website. Log into the Online Membership Manager (OMM) and members, under the 'My Profile' page will have the option to be listed as part of our contractor locator service. If you wish to make your services available to other organizations you will be able to do so via the OMM. The company profile will allow you to list the number of technicians you have, geographic location and skill sets of your organization. This will make it easier for companies to contact you to discuss contractor opportunities.
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