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WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
May 26, 2016 
Chairman Tom Wheeler 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
We write with concerns about the FCC's recently proposed rules on video navigation 
devices, which we believe could harm rural consumers and small pay-TV providers. Small pay­
TV providers are often the communications backbone of small rural communities and are 
frequently the only providers willing to serve these hard-to-reach areas. While we appreciate 
your commitment to protecting consumers, we urge you to delay the video navigation device 
proceedings until the FCC sufficiently studies the specific costs and impacts of the proposal on 
rural consumers and small providers. 
Small providers will not be able to afford the costs that could be associated with building 
a new architecture to comply with the proposed rule. Even ifthe Commission considers relief 
for small operators, the risks that the FCC's proposal poses to them and to consumers do not go 
away with an exemption. When equipment suppliers, programmers, and other vendors are 
compelled to meet a new standard, it often leaves small operators with no alternative choice but 
to comply. Moreover, they are often left with the highest costs and the least support. 
Consumers across America are experiencing unprecedented access to high-quality 
television programming which can be accessed on an increasing assortment of devices. As the 
video market continues to advance and innovate, it is critical that consumers in rural America 
experience the same opportunities as urban Americans. Putting additional burdens on the 
smallest providers could significantly reduce options in the most rural areas, which is why 
additional work needs to be done to study the costs and impacts of the proposed video navigation 
device rules before moving forward. 
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 
STEVE DAINES 
United States Senator 
Sincerely, 
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United States Senator 
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ROBERT P. CASEY, JR 
United States Senator 
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United States Senator 
DAN SULLIVAN 
United States Senator 
United States Senator 
DEB FISCHER 
United States Senator 
DEAN HELLER 
United States Senator