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EXHIBIT 5.1
[HALE LANE PEEK DENNISON HOWARD AND ANDERSON LETTERHEAD]
August 24, 2000
EchoStar Communications Corporation
5701 South Santa Fe Drive
Littleton, CO 80120
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Nevada counsel for EchoStar Communications
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing
by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") with respect to the
proposed offering and sale by certain stockholders of up to an aggregate of
61,200 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), pursuant to a public offering.
In so acting, we have examined such documents, records and matters of
law as we have deemed relevant and necessary for the purposes of this opinion.
In rendering the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have assumed the validity of
and relied upon the representations of the Company as to certain factual matters
relevant thereto.
On the basis of our examination, it is our opinion that the shares of
Common Stock being registered are legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving
this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Very truly yours,
HALE LANE PEEK DENNISON
HOWARD AND ANDERSON
/s/ Hale Lane Peek Dennison
Howard and Anderson
