HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 
AND CONSUMER CREDIT 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND 
INVESTIGATIONS 
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 
WASHINGTON OFFICE: 
1632 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2051 5 
PHONE: (202) 225-2721 
FAX: (202) 225-2193 
Chairman Tom Wheeler 
JOHN K. DELANEY 
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 
6TH DISTRICT, MARYLAND 
May 18,2015 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 l21h Street SW 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
DISTRICT OFFICES: 
GAITHERSBURG 
9801 WASHINGTONIAN BOULEVARD 
SUITE 330 
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND 20878 
PHONE: (301) 926-0300 
FAX: (301) 926-0324 
HAGERSTOWN 
38 SOUTH POTOMAC STREET 
SUITE 205 
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND 21740 
PHONE: (301) 733-2900 
FAX: (301) 926-0324 
WEBSITE: HTTP:f/WWW.DELANEY.HOUSE.GOV 
I would like to call your attention to an issue facing my constituents in Garrett County, 
Maryland. Garrett County is located in the far-western part of the state near Pennsylvania and 
West Virginia. Although Garrett is not close to the major population areas in Maryland, it is 
important that its residents feel connected to the state where they work, pay taxes, vote, and 
educate their children. I understand that the FCC will be putting forth a final rule based on the 
market modification requirements established in the Satellite Television Extension and Localism 
Act Reauthorization (STELAR). I have reviewed the Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued by 
your agency and I remain skeptical that Garrett County residents will have the opportunity to 
view in-state television. I hope that this letter will formally address my concerns. 
Due to the Designated Market Areas (DMA) used by the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) to determine local television market structure, most Garrett County residents are unable to 
receive access to critical information about the state in which they live. Garrett County residents 
are located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania DMA and are forced to view local television that 
targets this audience. As a result, Garrett is considered an "Orphan County," meaning that 
County residents are unable to receive coverage of Maryland political news, sports, public affairs 
programing, and employment information. I have heard from many of my constituents on this 
subject who are extremely frustrated with the current DMA designations. I stand with my 
constituents who are calling for a resolution. 
I am encouraged by the new rules passed by Congress under STELAR in December of 2014. 
Many of my constituents who use satellite television may now have the opportunity to petition 
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the FCC for a market modification to view Maryland programing. However, I remain concerned 
that Garrett County will continue to be an "Orphan County" due to the "economic infeasibility 
exceptions" for satellite companies that are established in STELAR. It is my hope that the FCC 
will put forth a final rule that establishes a reasonable set of criteria for orphan counties to 
qualify for a market modification and to make sure that the infeasibility criteria does not restrict 
substantial access to market modifications. I want all Marylanders to have access to Maryland 
television and it is my hope that the new rules established by STELAR will be a successful step 
forward. 
On behalf of my constituents, I look forward to continuing to work on this issue. Thank you for 
your time and consideration. 
Sincerely, 
John K. Delaney 
Member of Congress