677JOHNNY ISAKSON GEORGIA http~r.sakson.senate.gov 
131 RussELl SENATE OFFICE Bu ilDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 tinited ~mtcs ~rnatr 
1202) 224-3643 
ONE OVERTON PARK 
3625 CUMBERlAND BOUlEVARD, SUITE 970 
ATLANTA, GA 30339 
1770) 661-0999 
Chairman Tom Wheeler 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, S.W. 
Washington, D .C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
August 19,2016 
VETERANS' AFFAIRS 
CHAIRMAN 
SELECT COMMITIEE ON ETHICS 
CHAIRMAN 
FINANCE 
HEALTH, EDUCATION, 
LABOR, AND PENSIONS 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON 
EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE 
SAFETY, CHAIRMAN 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
I am writing to express my concern over recent service distuptions that have occurred between 
local television broadcasters and satellite providers. In particular, I am troubled by the impasse in 
negotiations that occurred last week between A TT / DIRECTV and Heartland .Media, LLC/USA 
Television Holdings, LLC ("H eartland"), two Georgia-based companies. 
The difference in size as the potential root cause of stations going off the air witl1 tl1e satellite 
carriers was highlighted in the past week when Georgia-based Heartland was forced o ff the air by 
A TT / DIRECTV last Wednesday evening. It appears that Heartland has offered ro resolve their dispute 
with ATf / DIRECT\! by accepting fees that ar e 18% lower than retransmission fees A'IT/DIRECTV is 
already paying to retransmit o ther broadcasters, with lesser-rated stations, in the same Designated Market 
Areas as Heartland. In addition, ATf / DIRECT\! has refused to accept contract terms that have been 
agreed to by every other major carrier in the retransmission industry. My understanding is that 
ATT/DIRECTV1s only response for its bargaining position is that Heartland, with five stations (each of 
which is the highest-rated station in its respective market), is too small to insist upon terms that 
A TT / DIRECT\! has agreed ro with stations owned by larger broadcasters in the same markets as 
Heartland. 
The foregoing does not appear to me to satisfy tl1e "good faitl1" bargaining obligations imposed 
on the parties by controlling federal statutes and regulations, and I am requesting that you look into not 
only tl1e specific negotiations involving H eartland, but also tl1e broader issue involved in retransmission 
negotiations. I am only interested in seeing that the playing field is level and tl1at tl1e requirements of tl1e 
statutes and regulations are followed. 
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. 
cc: Michael D . White, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ATT / DIRECTV 
Robert S. Prather, Jr., President and CEO Heartland Media, LLC/USA Television Holdings, LLC