FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Edward J. Markey United States Senate 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Markey: October 3, 2016 Thank you for your letter expressing concern regarding the retransmission consent dispute between Sunbeam Television and DirecTV, which, as you know, has now 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 Sunbeam Television and 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 this 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 do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely,