EchoStar Statement on House of Representatives' Satellite TV Bill

Business Wire, Oct 6, 2004

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- EchoStar Communications Corporation issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' vote to accept its satellite television bill today.

EchoStar is disappointed that the legislation passed by the House of Representatives includes many provisions harmful to consumers. The current bill would potentially force the installation of millions of second satellite dishes that consumers neither want nor need, benefiting only broadcaster special interests in other markets.

The bill also fails to include creation of a digital white area as contemplated by the Senate Commerce legislation. Where local broadcasters fail to invest in the equipment necessary to allow consumers to view digital channels off air, a digital white area would allow those consumers to receive high definition distant networks by satellite, providing millions of consumers the only current path to participation in the HD revolution.

We look forward to a final law that includes provisions in the Senate Commerce bill, which would allow rural consumers to receive a distant digital network signal via satellite and allow a longer period of transition to address the two-dish issue.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) serves more than 10.1 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last four years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. DISH Network ranks No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction among Cable/Satellite TV Subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).