CHRIS VAN HOLLEN
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The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
May 13,2011
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Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I am writing regarding a request pending before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
involving Entravision Holdings, LLC (Emravision). Entravision has applied for permission to relocate
WJAL, its station in Hagerstown, Maryland to Silver Spring. I share Entravision's belief that such a
move will benefit the Washington Metropolitan Area's (Metro) growing Latino population by addressing
its need for a second full-service Spanish-language over-the-air broadcast station.
It is my understanding that since 2002, Entravision has been communicating to the FCC that
recent demographic shifts in Maryland make the relocation of WJAL from Hagerstown to Silver Spring a
matter ofpublic interest. Those reports were supported by the results ofthe 20 I0 Census which showed
that the Latino population in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties has grown dramatically. Despite
that growth, the Metro area remains the only area of its kind with just a single Spanish-language over-the 
air station.
According to Latino groups and elected officials in Maryland, Latinos, unlike other population
groups, rely heavily on over-the-air television for entertainment programming, news, sports, public
affairs, and for public information. Entravision, which is a prominent Spanish-language broadcaster, has
long operated Class A Television Station WMDO-CA in the Metro area, where it broadcasts the
programming ofthe Telefutura Spanish-language network. However, that station's broadcast signal has
limited power and cannot be fully accessed over-the-air in the homes ofmy constituents in the suburbs of
Washington, D.C. Should WJAL be allowed to relocate to Silver Spring, Entravision has pledged to
provide Spanish-language service, with its attendant news, sports, public affairs, and public information
components, throughout the Metro area.
The Metro area's Latino residents deserve more than one over-the-air source for their Spanish 
language news and entertainment. Entravision is offering to provide that service by relocating WJAL to
Silver Spring. I support such a move and look forward to discussing the matter with you in greater detail.
Sincerely,
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Chris Van Hollen
Member ofCongress
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