STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re: Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Market Modification, Implementation of 
Section 102 of the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, MB Docket No. 15-71.
With this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we are taking the first step toward ensuring that 
customers of satellite television operators are able to watch the local programming that matters to them
the most.  Through the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, Congress gave the FCC tools to tackle the 
problem of so-called “Orphan Counties,” or situations in which satellite customers are unable to view 
television stations in their home State because of the boundaries set by Nielsen Designated Market Areas.  
The STELAR gives us the flexibility to adjust these boundaries, where warranted, through 
“market modifications.”  And once we adopt rules in this proceeding, we will be able to eliminate 
“Orphan Counties” in response to petitions filed by broadcasters or satellite operators.  In addition, we 
will be able to address other situations in which satellite customers are unable to receive local news, 
public affairs, emergency weather coverage, hometown sports or other local broadcast programming most 
relevant to them.  I am pleased that we are implementing this statutory provision in a conscientious and 
thorough manner.  
This proceeding will promote regulatory parity between cable and satellite operators, while
allowing us to account for the unique technical and economic aspects of satellite television service.  In the 
current media landscape, there is no logical reason why we can modify the local market of a cable 
operator, but not that of a satellite operator.  This NPRM begins the process of eliminating this outdated 
disparity, and it has my support.