Decisions
by the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission to Allow
or Block the merger of EchoStar Communications, Inc. and Hughes Electronics Corp
May Occur as Early as September! Now
is the Time to Stop Formation of a For-Profit Rural Monopoly! Please
Write or E-mail the U.S. Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission Asking Them to Block the Merger of EchoStar Communications, Inc. and
Hughes Electronics Corp. During
the past year, the National Grange has expressed its strong opposition to the
proposed merger of EchoStar Communications Inc and Hughes Electronics Corporation.
EchoStar and Hughes are the nation's leading providers of satellite TV and satellite
based high speed Internet services. Over 23 million rural households have no access
to cable television services. They must depend entirely upon satellite TV, now
being provided by the two companies. Each company offers a competitive, alternative
satellite TV and high speed satellite Internet service for rural consumers. The
EchoStar/Hughes merger would therefore, create a monopoly that would increase
consumers' monthly pricing, reduce customer service, and slow innovation. EchoStar
has pledged to provide local television services to all broadcast markets. But
the FCC recently stated that EchoStar has "previously been fined by the FCC for
rule violations, and admonished for its disingenuous behavior and lack of candor."
This is hardly an endorsement for the merger, or for a company that would be the
only TV service provider to Rural America. Number
of Households in each Grange State that Already Have Satellite TV Service and
that Would Immediately Fall under the New EchoStar/Hughes Satellite TV Monopoly
| AK-28,014 | CA-2,091,150 | CO-
400,418 | CT-103,211
| DE-45,121 |
| DC-22,872 | FL-1,236,359 | ID-139,104*
| IL-776,408
| IN-591,024*
| | IA-259,739 | KS-212,615
| ME-116,415 | MD-308,925 | MA-200,308 |
| MI-718,480 | MN-399,138
| MO-590,340* | MT-131,251* | NE-140,772 |
| NH-78,030 | NJ-354,224 | NY-918,661 | NC-859,705* | OH-754,176 |
| OK-311,736 | OR-276,443 | PA-577,754
| RI-38,456 | SC-384,661* |
| TN-540,846* | TX-1,939,923* | VT-94,0059* | VA-655,491* | WA-418,472 |
| WV-186,305* | WI-456,600
| WY-63,124* | | |
*-Indicates
States where more than 25% of all households use satellite TV Millions
of rural Americans are counting on the Grange to help protect them from a new
satellite TV/high-speed Internet monopoly. Please write or e-mail the U.S. Attorney
General and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission asking them
not to allow the merger of EchoStar Communications, Inc. and Hughes Electronics
Corp. Their mailing and e-mail addresses are following:
Hon. John Ashcroft, Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20530 Hon.
Michael Powell, Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th
Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554 Action
Plan --- The proposed merger of EchoStar communications, Inc and Hughes electronics
Corp. is reaching the final stages of the regulatory process. Please write or
e-mail the U.S. Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission asking them to block the merger of EchoStar Communications, Inc. and
Hughes Electronics Corp. If you have any questions or comments please contact
Legislative Research Analyst Chil-Sook
Hwang by fax: 202 347-1091 or by phone 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109.
Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
|
