MICHAEL F. BENNET 
COLORADO 
COMMmEES: 
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY tlnitrd ~tarrs ~rnatr 
FINANCE 
HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, 
AND PENSIONS 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Commuftications Commission 
445 12th Street S.W. 
Washington, D.C. 20536 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0609 
May 22, 2015 
WASHINGTON, DC: 
458 RvSSEu SŁNATE O F-Fa BuJLDING 
W ASHING"lON, DC 20510 
[2021 224-5852 
COLORADO: 
1127 SHERMAN STRUT 
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[3031455-7600 
h1tp:/lwww.bonnoLsenate.gov 
I write to express my concerns about the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent proposal 
for implementing Section 111 ofthe STELA Reauthorization Act of2014 (STELAR). For my home state 
of Colorado, this proposal could lead to higher prices for cable television service, especially for basic 
cable customers in our rural markets. It may also lead to fewer video programming choices for lower· 
income Coloradans. 
Section Ill of STELAR requires the FCC to streamline the petition process for small cable operators to 
seek an exemption from certain regulations. The small operates must demonstrate that they operate in 
markets where sufficient competition ensures reasonable rates and meaningful choice of programming. 
Congress's intent was to reduce the burden on small cable providers that often have fewer resources to 
undertake the petition process. However, the FCC's proposal to eliminate its presumption of"no 
effective competition" may benefit large cable companies. 
Presuming that effective competition for video programming exists in every community could remove a 
local franchising authority's ability to regulate the service rates charged by all cable companies, large and 
small. It may also eliminate the requirement to maintain basic cable service for all consumers. This 
could lead to fewer programming options if large cable operators remove less profitable local stations and 
public, educational, and governmental access (PEG) channels from the basic cable service tier. 
Colorado has more than 500 distinct cable communities. Less than half have been deemed by the FCC to 
be effectively competitive for pay television services and many of these communities rely on the basic tier 
of service. The FCC's proposal could have a negative effect on these communities that rely on the basic 
tier for critical local news and educational broadcasts. 
I ask the FCC to reconsider its proposal and make only those changes directed by Congress in Section 
Ill of STELAR. I have long advocated for the need of local, in·state programming for the Four Comers 
region of our state. The FCC's proposal could undermine those efforts and risk removal of far more local 
programming to higher, more expensive tiers. 
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. 
Michael F. Bennet 
U.S. Senator 
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