07/2812011 15:15 FAX 2022251915 Cong Gonzalez ~0002/0003 QCongrt~~iona[~i~panitQtaUCUS IInittb~tatt~COnlJt't~~ DllSf.Jington,~C20515 CHAIRMAN CHARLES A. GONZALEZ 20TH OISTRICT, TEXAS July 27,2011 Hon. Julius Genachowski Chainnan Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 Re: Entravision Communications Commission Station WJAL(TY) Hagerstown, Maryland Dear Chainnan Genachowski: On behalfofthe Congressional Hispanic Caucus, we write to encourage your consideration of the request by Entravision Holdings, LLC, to relocate their station WJAL from Hagerstown, MD, to Silver Spring, MD. As Hispanic populations grow across the country, the market for Spanish-language programming will continue to rise, and it is a proper use ofthe public airwaves to ensure that these listeners have adequate access to multiple broadcast sources of Spanish language programming. We are particularly aware ofthe challenges faced by many in America's most rapidly growing ethnic group. During the transition to DTV, Hispanic households were twice as likely as White households to be at risk oflosing access to broadcast television. Today, one-third ofHispanic households rely on broadcast stations for their television, significantly more than the national average. Tbis is one reason why it is so important that large Hispanic populations, like that in the Washington, DC, metropolitan region have access not only to multiple Spanish-language television stations but to multiple broadcast, Spanish-language stations. By relocating WJAL from Hagerstown, which has a relatively small Spanish-speaking population, to Silver Spring, Entravision would greatly increase the population it serves and remove the Washington metropolitan area from its position as one ofthe few metropolitan areas in the country with a sizable Hispanic population but only one full-power station broadcasting Spanish-language television. Hispanics now make up 12,7% ofthe population ofthe Washington metropolitan area, 9.1 % of Washington, DC, 16.1% ofMontgomery'County, MD, 13.5% ofPrince George's County, MD, and 17.1 % ofArlington, VA. It makes sense that they should have a choice in Spanish-language 1436L~OWOAT"HOUSE OFI'ICIE BUILDING W""""NOTON. DC 2.0515 (202) 2215·2410 NOT PIIIIHUO At T,.,IC'..,VIlII'. EIl".Nsl 07/28/2011 15:15 FAX 2022251915 Cong Gonzalez~0003/0003 broadcast television and Entravision's proposal to move WJAL from Hagerstown to Silver Spring would give them that choice. We join Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and many Latino groups in support ofthis move and urge you to give it the timely consideration it deserves. ~~. Chair Congressional Hispanic Caucus Sincerely, 4~ Ruben Hinojosa~ First Vice Chair Congressional Hispanic Caucus 07/28/2011 15:15 FAX 2022251915 Cong Gonzalez ~0001/0003 Office of Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez 20 th District ofTexas 1436 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3236 Fax: (202)225-1915 727 E. Durango B-124 Federal Building San Antonio, TX 78206 Phone: (210)472-6195 Fax: (210) 472-4009 To:to'2. -1.\\9 - 2801.. Re: E'1\\'t'o..\J\'5\0(\(l..~u..~ Number ofp.ages (including this cover sheet): 3 Message: ' From:~~~,~c:. Phone Number:· (210)472-6195 Fax Number: (210)472-4009 I i I I I I ! , I