1.   Although analysts said Echostar was financially stretched and faced an uncertain future as an independent company, it owns precious satellite slots and is already signing up customers.

2.   As an alternative to working with Murdoch, TCI is eyeing a high-powered satellite slot owned by Telesat of Canada.

3.   MCI, together with News Corp., owns a satellite slot that reaches the entire U.S.

4.   Satellite parking slots are assigned on a first-come basis.

5.   The satellite slots at stake include one which covers the entire continental U.S. -- there are only two other slots like it.

6.   The risk is even greater considering that Mexico plans to auction several empty satellite orbital slots this year, and other countries could follow.

7.   General Electric and Lockheed Martin are among a handful of companies also vying for the satellite slots.

8.   Generally, these are intended to hoard satellite slots for future use.

9.   Hundreds of requests for satellite slots are filed every month, according to ITU official Robert Jones.

10.   Tonga has tried to earn income by claiming orbital satellite slots under international law, then selling them to telecommunications carriers.