CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec 23, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) has named senior vice president Tom Moore as president of its newly acquired WildBlue subsidiary. Mr. Moore was a co-founder of WildBlue in 1998 and served as president and CEO until 2005, continuing as a director of the company until 2008. Under his tenure, WildBlue raised over half a billion dollars, built and launched its own special purpose satellite, and deployed a nationwide consumer broadband service. Mr. Moore's new role will dovetail with his current responsibilities that include oversight of the construction and launch of the ViaSat-1 high-capacity satellite. He replaces David Leonard who was WildBlue CEO for the past four years.

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"We think Tom's vision for the next phase of growth at WildBlue, including the integration of ViaSat-1, is really going to create exciting prospects for this business. With his extensive knowledge of the consumer satellite broadband business and many established relationships with others at WildBlue, we see this as a very smooth transition for both WildBlue and Tom," said Rick Baldridge, president and COO of ViaSat. "We also would like to thank Dave Leonard for all that he has contributed to building WildBlue into the successful business it is today."

Prior to joining ViaSat, Mr. Moore served as a principal at TimesArrow, a telecommunications and technology venture firm located in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Moore is also on the board of the Telecommunications Program at the University of Colorado and serves as a founding member of the Colorado Governor's Innovation Council. In addition, he was previously in senior management at Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs), a non-profit technology development consortium of the cable industry where he was instrumental in the creation of the world-wide DOCSIS cable modem standard.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to virtually any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. government; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and owns WildBlue, the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat is based in Carlsbad, CA, has major locations in Duluth, GA, Germantown, MD (Comsat Laboratories), and Greenwood Village, CO (WildBlue), along with additional field offices and service centers worldwide.

About WildBlue (www.wildblue.com)

WildBlue Communications Inc. was established to provide broadband access to consumers and small offices in areas unserved and underserved by terrestrial broadband Internet services. WildBlue high-speed satellite broadband service is easy to use, reliable, always on, and significantly faster than standard dial-up service. It opens up a window to a world of rich content that is largely unavailable through dial-up service and is accessible in areas traditionally underserved by cable modem or DSL service. Service is available in the contiguous United States.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements that refer to the next phase of growth and future prospects for the business of ViaSat, WildBlue, and the combined company. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability of ViaSat to successfully integrate WildBlue operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, including the expectation of greater revenue opportunities, operating efficiencies, and cost savings; the ability to ensure continued performance and market growth of WildBlue's business; the ability to have manufactured or successfully launch ViaSat-1, or implement the related satellite service; the ability to realize anticipated increases in capacity, user speeds, and quality by combining ViaSat-1 and WildBlue; the ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new products and enhancements; and changes in relationships with key customers, suppliers, distributors, resellers, and others as a result of the acquisition. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including ViaSat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The companies undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are trade names of ViaSat Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. "Comsat" is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation.

SOURCE ViaSat Inc.

http://www.viasat.com

http://www.wildblue.com

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