our DBS motion

[James Love <love@tap.org>]

The motion I posted here earlier today unfortunately displayed some of my
ignorance on this issue.  FCC's international bureau has explained to me
that the Primestar service isn't considered DBS, and so the three national
DBS services, following tomorrow's auction, will be the Direct TV/USSB,
echo star, which isn't operational yet, and the new 28 "channel" license
to be auctioned.  Moreover, TCI owns an 11 channel DBS permit, which it
would have to sell, if it obtains the more desireble 28 channel license
to be auctioned.  Primestar, which uses the larger dish, isn't considered
DBS, and wouldn't be effected by TCI or any of its other investors
acquiring a DBS license (unless the service "migrated" to a true DBS
license). 

   Of course we continue to oppose the licensing of DBS spectrum to cable 
or VDT operators, but in the rush to get something into the record before 
tomorrows auction I made some stupid mistakes.  jamie


----------------------------------------------------------------------
James Love, love@tap.org
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036; v. 202/387-8030; f. 202/234-5176
Consumer Project on Technology; http://www.essential.org/cpt/cpt.html
Taxpayer Assets Project; http://www.essential.org/tap/tap.html