[Steve Mehs]

Sources closely watching the DBS merger proceeding at the Federal Communications Commission admitted they were caught off guard by EchoStar's effort Monday to buy more time in convincing regulators to approve the pending combination.

Another player in the DBS merger drama, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, criticized the EchoStar move.

"This desperate, last minute gambit by EchoStar Communications is an abuse of the regulatory process and an insult to the commissioners and staff of the FCC," said Adam Schwartz, vice president of external affairs at the NRTC.

"No eleventh-hour concessions can change the simple fact that this merger would create a monopoly, leading to higher prices and reduced service for all consumers, especially in rural America," Schwartz said. "Surprise plot twists and 'secret plans' belong in James Bond movies, not in important public policy matters affecting millions of Americans.

"Regardless of Charlie Ergen's 'secret plan' to gain antitrust approval for this merger, there are no concessions EchoStar can offer that would make this merger in the public interest," the NRTC VP concluded.

From SkyReport (Used with Permission)

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

And the NRTC does not jack up their prices on DirecTV now?

Who is calling the kettle black?

I do agree though it IS a last minute effort by Charlie and the boys. But can you really blame them?

 

[Ryan]

Can residents in NRTC area sub directly to Dish?

 

[Geronimo]

Now they can but according to Pegasus they will control poricing in their areas after a merger. I am not saying i believe that I am just quoting them.

 

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski


I do agree though it IS a last minute effort by Charlie and the boys. But can you really blame them?

I agree, Scott. E* has a crapload of money and time invested. While the action may seem desperate, I'd do the exact same thing if I were in their shoes.

 

[BobaBird]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
And the NRTC does not jack up their prices on DirecTV now?

Who is calling the kettle black?

:righton:Rural America is being gouged today, yet we have people lining up to oppose the sale of a company that entered into the arrangement to a company that is promising to end it. And when/if they are successful, neither company will have the bandwidth left to provide locals to those areas while the duplicate the other's programming.

To paraphrase a quote that has appeared in numerous news articles: Where there might have been 2 or even just one source of a quality local signal there will now be 1 or none.