FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
TH E CHAI RMAN
June 3, 2015
The Honorable Michael Bennet
United States Senate
458 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Bennet:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Federal Communications Commission's
(Commission) expeditious actions to put rules in place for implementing the Satellite Television
Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act (STELAR). I also thank you for your view
urging the Commission to allow county commissions to file for market modifications on behalf
of their residents. I know that you have consistently advocated for equal access to in-state
broadcasts for all Coloradans, especially those in Southwest Colorado, where several "orphan
counties" are located. State and local government officials in Colorado have also played an
important role in this ongoing effort.
STELAR was enacted in December 2014, and Section 102 ofthis law gives the
Commission authority to modify a commercial television station's local television market for
purposes of satellite carriage rights. Prior to the enactment of STELAR, the Commission had
authority to modify markets only in the cable carriage context. The Commission proposes to
apply the existing cable rule to the satellite carriage context, while adding rules to address the
unique nature of satellite television service.
On March 16,2015, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which
seeks comment on many of the rules necessary for implementing STELAR, including the issue
you raise as to how satellite subscribers and their representatives, including local governments,
can meaningfully advocate for receipt of in-state programming. I am hopeful that the proposed
rules will offer an opportunity for residents in Colorado counties, such as Montezuma and La
Plata, to receive in-state stations via satellite. While we are in the process of removing the
regulatory issues, the ability of the market modification provision to successfully address orphan
county problems in specific communities will depend in large part on satellite carriers' technical
and financial ability to provide in-state stations to those areas. The comment period for this
proposal ended this week, and we will carefully review the record in its entirety. The
Commission is under a statutory deadline to adopt these rules by September 4, 2015.
Page 2-The Honorable Michael Bennet
I understand how deeply Coloradans care about receiving their in-state news, weather,
sports, and entertainment, and I assure you the Commission is working diligently to achieve that
goal. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Your views will be included in the
record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
June 3, 2015
The Honorable Cory Gardner
United States Senate
B40B Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Gardner:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Federal Communications Commission's
(Commission) expeditious actions to put rules in place for implementing the Satellite Television
Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act (STELAR). I also thank you for your view
urging the Commission to allow county commissions to file for market modifications on behalf
of their residents. I know that you have consistently advocated for equal access to in-state
broadcasts for all Coloradans, especially those in Southwest Colorado, where several "orphan
counties" are located. State and local government officials in Colorado have also played an
important role in this ongoing effort.
STELAR was enacted in December 2014, and Section 102 ofthis law gives the
Commission authority to modify a commercial television station's local television market for
purposes of satellite carriage rights. Prior to the enactment of STELAR, the Commission had
authority to modify markets only in the cable carriage context. The Commission proposes to
apply the existing cable rule to the satellite carriage context, while adding rules to address the
unique nature of satellite television service.
On March 16, 2015, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which
seeks comment on many of the rules necessary for implementing STELAR, including the issue
you raise as to how satellite subscribers and their representatives, including local governments,
can meaningfully advocate for receipt of in-state programming. I am hopeful that the proposed
rules will offer an opportunity for residents in Colorado counties, such as Montezuma and La
Plata, to receive in-state stations via satellite. While we are in the process of removing the
regulatory issues, the ability of the market modification provision to successfully address orphan
county problems in specific communities will depend in large part on satellite carriers' technical
and financial ability to provide in-state stations to those areas. The comment period for this
proposal ended this week, and we will carefully review the record in its entirety. The
Commission is under a statutory deadline to adopt these rules by September 4,2015.
Page 2-The Honorable Cory Gardner
I understand how deeply Coloradans care about receiving their in-state news, weather,
sports, and entertainment, and I assure you the Commission is working diligently to achieve that
goal. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Your views will be included in the
record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Sincerely, t4~~ ~ t--
~~ ~
£~~ler (
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
June 3, 2015
The Honorable Scott Tipton
U.S. House of Representatives
218 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Tipton:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Federal Communications Commission's
(Commission) expeditious actions to put rules in place for implementing the Satellite Television
Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act (STELAR). I also thank you for your view
urging the Commission to allow county commissions to file for market modifications on behalf
of their residents. I know that you have consistently advocated for equal access to in-state
broadcasts for all Coloradans, especially those in Southwest Colorado, where several "orphan
counties" are located. State and local government officials in Colorado have also played an
important role in this ongoing effort.
STELAR was enacted in December 2014, and Section 102 of this law gives the
Commission authority to modify a commercial television station's local television market for
purposes of satellite carriage rights. Prior to the enactment of STELAR, the Commission had
authority to modify markets only in the cable carriage context. The Commission proposes to
apply the existing cable rule to the satellite carriage context, while adding rules to address the
unique nature of satellite television service.
On March 16,2015, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which
seeks comment on many of the rules necessary for implementing STELAR, including the issue
you raise as to how satellite subscribers and their representatives, including local governments,
can meaningfully advocate for receipt of in-state programming. I am hopeful that the proposed
rules will offer an opportunity for residents in Colorado counties, such as Montezuma and La
Plata, to receive in-state stations via satellite. While we are in the process of removing the
regulatory issues, the ability ofthe market modification provision to successfully address orphan
county problems in specific communities will depend in large part on satellite carriers' technical
and financial ability to provide in-state stations to those areas. The comment period for this
proposal ended this week, and we will carefully review the record in its entirety. The
Commission is under a statutory deadline to adopt these rules by September 4,2015.
Page 2-The Honorable Scott Tipton
I understand how deeply Coloradans care about receiving their in-state news, weather,
sports, and entertainment, and I assure you the Commission is working diligently to achieve that
goal. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Your views will be included in the
record of the proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
SincerelY,. ~4[~er~