FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media contact: May 19, 1999 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500 STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. KENNARD ON GRANT OF ECHOSTAR/MCI TRANSFER APPLICATION "Today the Commission took a giant step forward to bringing American consumers more choice in television service. Despite the growth in numbers of satellite subscribers, cable TV systems remain by far the dominant supplier of non-broadcast video programming to American homes. By allowing companies like EchoStar to become stronger competitors to cable, the FCC is clearing the way for consumers to have more choices in how they get their television programming." - FCC -