FCC Denies Echostar Appeal On Public Interest Programming Allocations

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FCC Denies Echostar Appeal On Public Interest Programming Allocations

The U.S. Federal Communications Commissionm (FCC) denied a December 27, 1999 request from EchoStar to reconsider its ruling on a company proposal to place public interest programming on a non-full-CONUS satellite.

Since late 1999, the FCC has required DBS operators to dedicate 4 percent of capacity to public interest/educational programming. EchoStar proposed placing the programming on its satellite at 61.5 W. However, the satellite footprint does not cover the entire United States. The FCC ruled on November 24, that the move didn't comply with its public interest obligations. "The order made clear that DBS public interest programming must be made available to all of a DBS provider's subscribers without additional charge, and that the obligations are designed to expand programming choices for consumers in all areas of the United States."

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August 21, 2000