Birth of the Small Satellite TV Dish in Silicon Valley Chronicled on Movie Award-Winning 9-Minute Chaparral Documentary Available for Training

San Jose, CA – May 17, 2006 – You may not even realize it, but some of the greatest advancements in technology were developed right here in Silicon Valley. Arguably, one of the most influential of all was a little product called the small satellite TV dish created in the 1960s by Jim Janky and Bob Taggart, CEO of Chaparral Communications, a leading provider of products used in commercial and residential satellite reception systems worldwide.

Thanks to them – people everywhere are able to sit back, relax and receive low-cost satellite TV reception, with the simple click of a button. To chronicle this remarkable history, the San Jose-based Chaparral recently put together a nine-minute documentary called “Satellite Industry Pioneers.”

“With the development of the small satellite TV dish we truly have enriched people’s lives,” said Taggart, who lives in Portola Valley. “Our objective was to help others by making it possible to receive information, education and entertainment via satellite in the most remote areas of the globe. And it worked.”

Serving as an educational and entertaining timeline of information on the creation of the small satellite TV dish, which all began nearly 40 years ago at Stanford University, the video is now available to individuals and companies to use as a training tool in the classroom or boardroom. The documentary can be used in part or full to help educate others about the accurate history of satellite TV development, the people involved and the power to turn a vision into reality that has molded our communications abilities in staggering ways. “Satellite Industry Pioneers” is online for viewing at www.chaparral.com.

Recognized for its excellence earlier this year, the flash video won a Bronze ADDY® Award for innovative and multi-media design from the Ad Club of Silicon Valley. Montgomery Unleashed of San Jose developed the documentary. To view the nine-minute video, visit www.chaparral.com. For more information go online or call 408.294.2900.

Chaparral Communications, Inc.

Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Chaparral Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of products used in commercial and residential satellite reception systems worldwide. Chaparral was founded in 1980 and is recognized for developing quality products, innovative designs, responsive customer service and leadership in the satellite reception system industry. Chaparral is privately held and products are manufactured in the United States, Mexico, China and Taiwan. For more information, visit www.chaparral.com or call 408.294.2900.