FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
O FFIC E OF 
THE CHAI R MAN 
The Honorable Johnny Isakson 
United States Senate 
131 Russell Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510 
Dear Senator Isakson: 
October 3, 2016 
Thank you for your letter expressing concern regarding the retransmission consent 
dispute between Heartland Media and AT&T/DirectTV. As you know, this dispute has been 
resolved. 
Congress, in Section 325 of the Communications Act, sought to reduce the likelihood that 
TV viewers would be disadvantaged by contract disputes between broadcasters and multichannel 
video programming distributors (MVPDs). The law requires broadcasters and MVPDs to 
negotiate for retransmission consent in good faith . Congress gave the Commission the authority 
to keep an eye on these negotiations, and our rules include a framework to determine whether 
broadcasters and MVPDs are negotiating in good faith . 
Many broadcasters and MVPDs take that responsibility seriously and conclude hundreds 
of retransmission consent deals without interruption. And this process is entirely invisible to 
their viewers - as it should be. That's not to say, however, that impasses like the one between 
Heartland Media and AT&T/DirecTV won ' t happen. And when they do, I am prepared to use 
the authority Congress has conferred on the Commission to help to bring negotiations to a 
conclusion. 
At thi s time, I am aware of no evidence to suggest that either party violated our rules, and 
I am pleased that the parties resolved their dispute. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely,