Dish Opens GAC To All For ‘Smoky’ Relief Effort

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As recovery efforts continue following the devastating wildfires in Tennessee, Dish Network is allowing all who subscribe to the service to have access to the Great American Country channel for tonight’s special benefit concert headlined by Sevier County, Tenn., native Dolly Parton.


Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund will air at 8 p.m. Eastern on Great American Country. The event also features legendary country music stars Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss, and is designed to raise money for families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the fires.

The benefit concert comes as Dish continues to deliver free dishNET satellite broadband to aid in relief efforts in Gatlinburg and other impacted areas in Sevier County. Through its DishCares program, the company is working with the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) to deliver connectivity at the Forward Operations Base and Volunteer Reception Center, two key hubs of volunteer organization and mobilization.

“Dolly Parton, Great American Country and Dish care about Tennesseans whose lives have been impacted by the fires, and we are working to ensure they have the resources they need to rebuild,” said Dish EVP Warren Schlichting.

“At the Volunteer Reception Center alone, we are seeing anywhere from 700 to 1,100 volunteers per day who are providing crucial relief efforts, and Dish makes it possible for us to register and stay connected with all of these volunteers,” added Joe Hillis, operations director for ITDRC. “We expect to be on the ground for several more weeks.”

Great American Country can be found on Dish Channel 165.