Dish Network 2000 Annual Report Download - page 83

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 83 of the 2000 Dish Network annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 86

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86

ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Continued
F–32
EchoStar is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of
business. In the opinion of management, the amount of ultimate liability with respect to those actions will not
materially affect EchoStar’s financial position or results of operations.
Meteoroid Events
Meteoroid events pose a potential threat to all in orbit geosynchronous satellites including EchoStar’s DBS
satellites. While the probability that EchoStar’s satellites will be damaged by meteoroids is very small, that
probability increases significantly when the Earth passes through the particulate stream left behind by various
comets.
Due to the current peak in the 11-year solar cycle, increased solar activity is likely for the next year. Some
of these solar storms pose a potential threat to all in-orbit geosynchronous satellites including EchoStar’s DBS
satellites. The probability that the effects from the storms will damage our satellites or cause service interruptions is
generally very small.
Some decommissioned spacecraft are in uncontrolled orbits which pass through the geostationary belt at
various points, and present hazards to operational spacecraft including EchoStar’s DBS satellites. The locations of
these hazards are generally well known and may require EchoStar to perform maneuvers to avoid collisions.