~ULIUSGENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
February 16, 2012
The Honorable John F. Kerry
United States Senate
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Kerry:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the retransmission consent
negotiations between D1RECTV and Sunbeam Television Corporation. I share your concern for
consumers caught in the middle ofprotracted negotiations. As you know, Commission staff
continually monitored this situation and reached out to the parties for status updates. I am
pleased that the parties were able to reach an agreement.
Commission staff is reviewing the record developed in response to the Commission's
Notice ofProposed Rulemaking to determine if proposed changes to its retransmission consent
rules are warranted. The Commission also remains available as a resource ifCongress chooses
to revisit the statutory framework for retransmission consent.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if! can be ofany further
assistance.
Sincerely,
Julius Genachowski
445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000