EDWARD J . MARKEY 
MASSA CHUSETTS 
COMMITTEES: citlnitrd ~tatrs ~rnatr ENVIRO NM[Ni ANO Pu su c \IVORKS 
RANKING MEMBER: 
Sw•i;flFu No. WASTE M ANAGl:MENT, AND 
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
RANKING MEMBER: 
S u ac oMMfITEE ON AFRICA 
ANO G LOBAL HE Al rn Pouc v 
COMMERCE', SCIENCE. ANO T AANSPORTATION 
5MALI- B USINESS ANO Er-JH~F.PAfNEURSH I P 
CHAIRMAN: 
U .S St N..A"ff: CLIMATE CHANGE CLEARINGHOUS E 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th St. SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
August 5, 2016 
Su m Sl>-255 
D1RKSEN 8UILO!N G 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 - 2107 
202- 224- 2742 
975 JFK FtOERAl. BUILOl" G 
15 New SuosuRv STREH 
BOSTON, MA 02203 
617- 565-8519 
222 M lllli<EN BouLEVARD, Sullf 312 
FALL RIVER , M A 02721 
508-677--0523 
1550 MA>N SmHT, 4TH FLOOR 
SPRINGFIELD. MA 01101 
413-785-'1610 
I write to express my concern about the ongoing retransmission consent dispute behveen 
Sunbeam Television and DirecTV, which is affecting approximately 160,000 DirecTV 
subscribers in Greater Boston who have been left without their normal access to WHDH 
programming since July 16. When the Olympics begin this evening, such suspension of service 
will become even more serious for these customers. 
I make no representations as to the merits of either side's position, as these are contractual 
discussions between private parties. I have written to both companies encouraging them to 
remain engaged in good faith negotiations. (See attachment) 
Clearly, the public interest would be served if carriage is restored by the parties at the earliest 
possible opportunity so that customers are no longer disadvantaged as a result of this 
dispute. We request that you take action to bring the parties together so these negotiations can be 
concluded in an equitable and expeditious manner and signal restored. Consumers should not be 
caught in the middle. 
I look forward to your prompt response. 
Sincerely, 
~~-~ 
Edward J. Markey 
United States Senator 
629
EDWARD J . MARKEY 
MASSACHUSETIS 
COMMITIEES: 
Efl>vmo 'MENT AND Pueuc Wom<s 
RANKING MEMBER: 
SUPEAfUNO, WASTE MANAG EMENT, AND 
Rt:GULA'fORY 0VE~SIGH1' 
fOflEtG11.1 RELATIO~S 
RANKING MEMBER: 
$ UBCOMMITTH. ON A ffUCA 
AND GLOBAL HEAL TH Po u cv 
C OMMERCE, $c;1rf';CE.. ANO TRANSPORTATION 
SMA LL Bus1NESS ""'o ENTREPkENEUASHIP 
CHAIRMAN : 
U .S . S ENATE: CLIMATE. CH.ANGE CLEARIN GHOUSE 
Mr. Edmund Ansin 
President 
Sunbeam Television Corp 
1401 79111 Street Causeway 
North Bay Village, FL 3 3141 
Mr. Randall L. Stephenson 
Chairman and CEO 
AT&T (DirecTV) 
208 South Akard Street 
Dallas, TX 75202 
tlnital ~mtcs ~rnatc 
August 5, 2016 
Dear Mr. Ansin and Mr. Stephenson: 
SUITE SD-255 
DIRKSEN 8 Ull[NNG 
WASHll'.GTON, DC 20510-2107 
202- 224-2742 
975 JFK FrnEML BUILDH•G 
15 N ew SUDBURY STREET 
BOSTON, MA 02203 
617-565-8519 
222 M ILLl<EN BouLEVAAD, Su1TF 312 
f"LL RIVER, MA 02721 
508-677-0523 
1550 MAIN STREET, 4TH FLOOR 
SPFnNGFIELD, MA 01101 
413-785-4610 
I write to express my concern about the impact your ongoing business dispute over 
retransmission fees is having on approximately 160,000 DirecTV subscribers in Greater Boston 
who have been left without their normal access to WHDH programming since July 16. When 
the Olympics begin this evening, such suspension of service will become even more serious for 
these customers. 
I make no representations as to the merits of either side' s position, as these are contractual 
discussions between private parties. I encourage both parties to remain engaged in good faith 
negotiations. I am also requesting that the Federal Communications Commission take action to 
bring both parties together so these negotiations can be concluded in an equitable and 
expeditious manner. Consumers should not be caught in the middle. 
I look forward to your prompt response. 
Sincerely, 
~~·~ 
Edward J. Markey 
United States Senator