Hughes Executive Honored with Federal Government Distance Learning Association 2018 Pillar Award

Tony Bardo Recognized for Outstanding Service Delivering Distance Learning Capabilities

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Nov 29, 2018, 08:10 ET

GERMANTOWN, Md., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that Tony Bardo, assistant vice president of Government Solutions at Hughes, received the Federal Government Distance Learning Association's (FGDLA) 2018 Pillar Award. The Pillar Award recognizes individuals outside the employ of U.S. agencies and military for outstanding service and significant contributions to expanding government distance learning opportunities.

"I'm honored to represent Hughes in supporting the vision of the FGDLA in broadening the role of blended-media approaches to distance learning and training in the Federal Government," said Bardo. "Distance learning—whether delivered by terrestrial or satellite technologies—provides agencies with secure and engaging digital platforms to foster employee growth, and bring significant cost savings to agencies in training their employees wherever they may be around the world."

"Tony and the Hughes team have helped agencies save millions of taxpayer dollars through solutions like the Government Education and Training Network (GETN—an interactive, hybrid satellite-terrestrial network)," said Dr. Philip Westfall, FGDLA's Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We recognize Tony's and Hughes leadership in supporting the annual Government Learning & Technology Symposium as well as serving the GETN for more than 10 years."

GETN supports six federal agencies delivering training applications over the network that range from broadcasting videos of mock trials for judicial employees, to instructor-led video discussions for air traffic controllers, medical personnel, civil engineers, acquisition professionals and aircraft mechanics around the world. The network spans 1,030+ downlink sites with 1 or more classrooms, five uplink sites, 21 broadcast studios, and 44 international sites.

Under Bardo's leadership, Hughes also provides high-speed broadband access to schools, libraries and rural health care providers under the E-Rate Federal Government program to provide institutions in economically disadvantaged communities with affordable Internet access. Globally, Hughes technology connects thousands of schools across Brazil, Mexico, Russia, India and other regions for online education.

About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet service is HughesNet®, the world's largest satellite network with over 1.3 million residential and business customers across North and South America. For large enterprises and governments, the company's HughesON® managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies. The JUPITER™ System is the world's most widely deployed High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul applications. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 7 million terminals of all types to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is powering broadband services to aircraft around the world.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com and follow @HughesConnects on Twitter.

About EchoStar
EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC