FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
April 11, 2016
The Honorable Ileana Ros- Lehtinen
U.S. House of Representatives
2206 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern regarding the breakdown in negotiations
between FOX (WSVN-TV) and AT&T U-Verse television service and the subsequent blackout
of the broadcast signal on the AT&T system on January 16,2016. As you are probably aware,
the parties have resolved their dispute and the WSVN-TV signal was restored to the AT&T U-
Verse lineup on February 10,2016. I share your concerns regarding this type of retransmission
consent dispute.
As you know, Section 103(c) of the STELA Reauthorization Act of2014 ("STELAR")
directed the FCC to review the totality of the circumstances test for evaluating whether broadcast
stations and MVPDs are negotiating for retransmission consent in good faith. In September
2015, the Commission initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Comments and reply
comments were due on December 1,2015 and January 14,2016, respectively, and the
Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the record. Your letter will be included in
the record of this proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Thank you for your interest in this matter and please let me know if I can be of further
assistance. -Si'/(t
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN April 11, 2016
The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart
U.S. House of Representatives
440 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Diaz- Balart:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern regarding the breakdown in negotiations
between FOX (WSVN-TV) and AT&T U-Verse television service and the subsequent blackout
of the broadcast signal on the AT&T system on January 16,2016. As you are probably aware,
the parties have resolved their dispute and the WSVN-TV signal was restored to the AT&T U-
Verse lineup on February 10,2016. I share your concerns regarding this type of retransmission
consent dispute.
As you know, Section 103(c) of the STELA Reauthorization Act of2014 ("STELAR")
directed the FCC to review the totality of the circumstances test for evaluating whether broadcast
stations and MVPDs are negotiating for retransmission consent in good faith. In September
2015, the Commission initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Comments and reply
comments were due on December 1,2015 and January 14,2016, respectively, and the
Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the record. Your letter will be included in
the record ofthis proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Thank you for your interest in this matter and please let me know if I can be of further
assistance. ;;dt~
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
TH E CHAI RMAN April 11, 2016
The Honorable Carlos Curbelou.s. House of Representatives
1429 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Curbelo:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern regarding the breakdown in negotiations
between FOX (WSVN-TV) and AT&T U-Verse television service and the subsequent blackout
of the broadcast signal on the AT&T system on January 16,2016. As you are probably aware,
the parties have resolved their dispute and the WSVN-TV signal was restored to the AT&T U-
Verse lineup on February 10, 2016. I share your concerns regarding this type of retransmission
consent dispute.
As you know, Section 103(c) of the STELA Reauthorization Act of2014 ("STELAR")
directed the FCC to review the totality of the circumstances test for evaluating whether broadcast
stations and MVPDs are negotiating for retransmission consent in good faith. In September
2015, the Commission initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Comments and reply
comments were due on December 1, 2015 and January 14,2016, respectively, and the
Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the record. Your letter will be included in
the record of this proceeding and considered as part of the Commission's review.
Thank you for your interest in this matter and please let me know if I can be of further
assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom Wheeler