Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554

In re Applications of           )
                                )
MCI TELECOMMUNICATIONS          )  File No. SAT-ASG-19981202-00093
CORPORATION, Assignor           )  Call Sign S2232
and                             )
ECHOSTAR 110 CORPORATION, Assignee)
                                )
For Consent to Assignment of Authorization)
to Construct, Launch, and Operate a Direct)
Broadcast Satellite System Using 28 Frequency)
Channels at the 110§ W.L. Orbital Location)
                                )
                                )
AMERICAN SKY BROADCASTING, LLC, )  File No. SES-ASG-19981204-01829 (4)
Assignor                        )  Call Signs E980180, E980174, E980178, E970394
and                             )
ECHOSTAR NORTH AMERICA          )
CORPORATION, Assignee           )
                                )
For Consent to Assignment of    )
Transmit-Receive Earth Station Authorizations)


                             ORDER


   Adopted:  January 28, 1999           Released:  February 1, 1999

By the Chief, Satellite Policy Branch, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division, International Bureau:

     1.  On January 28, 1999, the Small Cable Business Association (SCBA) submitted an Emergency
Motion for Extension of Time to file its response to the Joint Consolidated Opposition of EchoStar 110
Corporation, EchoStar North America Corporation (collectively, "Echostar") and MCI Telecommunications
Corporation (the EchoStar/MCI Opposition) to SCBA's Petition to Deny the above-captioned applications. 
SCBA requests that the Commission extend the filing deadline for SCBA's response from February 1, 1999
to February 4, 1999.  We grant that request in this Order, and extend the effect of this grant to all parties to
this proceeding that wish to file responses to the EchoStar/MCI Opposition.

     2.  SCBA states that counsel to EchoStar provided SCBA with a facsimile copy of the EchoStar/MCI
Opposition on January 25, 1999.  Based on the seven day period for filing responses established in the
EchoStar/MCI PN, SCBA's response to the EchoStar/MCI Opposition is due on February 1, 1999.  SCBA
also states that although The News Corporation Limited filed a Consolidated Opposition (the News Corp.
Opposition) on January 25, 1999, this pleading was served upon SCBA by mail.  Based on Section 1.4(h)
of the Commission's Rules, SCBA's response to the News Corp. Opposition is due on February 4, 1999.

     3.  SCBA seeks this extension for filing its response to the EchoStar/MCI Opposition so that it can
consolidate its response to EchoStar/MCI with its response to News Corp.  SCBA contends that, as a trade
association representing the interests of small cable businesses, it has limited financial resources and
therefore, planned to submit a consolidated response to all oppositions filed on its Petition to Deny, rather
than individual responses.  Due to the parties choosing different service methods, SCBA requests that it be
granted permission to file a consolidated response on the latter due date. 

     4.  It is the policy of the Commission that motions for extensions of time shall not be routinely
granted.  Under these circumstances, however, we find that granting SCBA's motion for additional time will
not prejudice any party in this proceeding if the additional time is also extended to any other parties to this
proceeding that were planning to file responses to the Echostar/MCI Opposition on February 1, 1999. 
Accordingly, we grant SCBA's motion, and extend the deadline for all parties to this proceeding to file
responses to the Echostar/MCI Opposition from February 1, 1999 to February 4, 1999.

     5.  IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that SCBA's Emergency Motion for Extension of Time IS
GRANTED to the extent indicated herein.


                                   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                                   Fern J. Jarmulnek
                                   Chief, Satellite Policy Branch
                                   Satellite and Radiocommunication Division
                                   International Bureau