FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News Media Contact: October 2, 2000, David Fiske (202) 418-0513 Statement by FCC Chairman William Kennard on EchoStar Announcement of Political Candidate Airtime The announcement today that the direct broadcast satellite company, EchoStar, is creating a dedicated channel, Vote 2000, to broadcast information and free candidate airtime on the Presidential campaign shows that the important concept of using television to serve the public interest is not limited to traditional over-the-air broadcasting. As more and more viewers exercise their expanding rights to choose television programming from either broadcasting, cable, satellite, and soon the Internet, it is heartening that the DBS industry recognizes the powerful rule that television plays in political campaigns and that it is willing to step up and serve the public interest by airing important election programming. I commend EchoStar for its leadership in making this political programming available, and its commitment to the fundamental premise that an informed electorate is vital to our democratic society. - FCC - 1 2 News media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202/418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).