*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 21363.doc* Joint Statement of Commissioners Kevin J. Martin and Kathleen Q. Abernathy Re: Policies and Rules for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, Report and Order, IB Docket No. 98- 21 (adopted April 8, 2002) We are pleased to support this Order revising our rules governing Direct Broadcast Satellite (“ DBS”) service and finally giving meaning to our rule that DBS operators “must provide DBS service to Alaska and Hawaii.” Consumers in these two states deserve access to similar DBS service options as their counterparts in the Mainland, and today we clarify our rule accordingly. We explain that our requirement to provide “service” to Alaska and Hawaii means that DBS providers must offer packages of services in Alaska and Hawaii that are reasonably comparable to what they offer in the contiguous 48 states. We believe this clarification will benefit consumers in Alaska and Hawaii tremendously, finally enabling them to enjoy the rich diversity of programming that DBS provides. 1