APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE RANKING MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE E-MAIL VIA WEB ADDRESS AT: www.house.gov/schiff FACE BOOK: www.facebook.com/repadamschiff November 21, 2014 The Honorable Tom Wheeler ADAM B. SCHIFF 28TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA Chairman; Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 RE: Preserving Low Power Television Options Dear Chairman Wheeler: WASHINGTON OFFICE: D 2411 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 D D (202) 225-4176 FAX: (202) 225-5828 DISTRICT OFFICE: 245 EAST OLIVE AVENUE S UITE 200 BURBANK, CA 91502 (818)450-2900 FAX: (818)450-2928 DISTRICT OFFICE: 5500 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD SUITE 416 Los ANGELES, CA 90028 (323) 315-5555 (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY) As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moves forward with the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction, I urge the Commission to take into consideration the effects of the auction and the repacking process on Low Power Television stations (LPTV), particularly those that reach underserved audiences. I share your support for a timely and successful incentive auction, as mandated by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which will generate revenue and free spectrum for mobile -broadband applications. However, I also believe the Commission should look holistically at the broadcast television landscape, including LPTV, and take into account the impact of repacking on audience access to the over the air programming they want and expect. As you are aware, my colleagues Representative Joe Barton of Texas and Representative Anna Eshoo of California recently wrote to the Government Accountability Office to ask that they study the LPTV landscape and the possible effects of repacking on their ability to broadcast. Reps. Barton and Eshoo's letter raises important questions that should inform the Commission's deliberations on this issue, specifically gaining a better understanding of the effects of repacking on LPTV and a survey of the range of LPTV options available. I also appreciate that the FCC has requested comments from stakeholders on issues related to LPTV and the incentive auction, and I urge you to closely examine the feedback and ideas you receive during this process. Above all, I urge the Commission to keep in mind the way its decisions will impact audiences, particularly those that are not well-served by full power television offerings. For example, in my district in the Los Angeles region, the large Armenian speaking population is served by LPTV stations, including US Armenian TV (KHO) which broadcasts high-quality and original content. It is important that in evaluating LPTV's impact that the FCC distinguish between translator and other stations that simply rebroadcast commercial signals, and stations that reach an audience THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE OF RECYCLED FIBERS 1225 that would otherwise not receive programming in their native language and relevant to their daily lives. As the incentive auction process moves forward, I urge the Commission to continue to study the impact on LPTV and consider steps to ensure that as the process unfolds, audiences will continue to have access to the content they want and expect. I appreciate your consideration of my views and request that you provide a response detailing the Commission's thinking on this topic. Please feel free to respond through my staff member, Jeff Lowenstein, who can be reached jeff.lowenstein@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Member of Congress