scon R. TIPTON FINANCIAL SERVICES 3RD D ISTRICT, COLORADO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 218 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING HOUSING, COMMUN TY 1202) 225--4761 DEVELOPMENT ANO INSURANCE ~ongre5'5' of tbe mtniteb ~tate5' r!}ouse of l1\epresentatibes wmtasbington, 1D<I!: 20515-0603 131 March 5, 2019 The Honorable Ajit Pai, Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai, As you know, for decades the Federal Communications Commission and Congress have been examining local television Designated Market Areas and the "orphan counties" that exist within them. These orphan counties are assigned to a television market in one state and their residents live in another state. Coloradans in two orphan counties, La Plata and Montezuma, have long been trying to access their in-state news, weather, and sports. Following the passage of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) in 2014, La Plata County's October 2016 request for a local market modification was granted by the Chief of the Media Bureau in March 2017. After the local market modification was granted, several Albuquerque broadcast stations filed an Application for Review of the decision. After nearly two years, the decision on the Application for Review is still pending. I urge the FCC to expedite the decision on the Albuquerque broadcast stations' Application for Review. La Plata County has worked for years to bring local television to southwest Colorado, and the uncertainty surrounding the Application for Review is detrimental to all impacted parties. Attached is a letter from La Plata County outlining its desire for the Commission to act in a timely manner. I look forward to reviewing the Commission's decision. Please do not hesitate to contact my office should you have any questions on this issue. Sincerely, Scott Tipton Member of Congress PR INTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ck~(.) -r- Coloradol Board of C ounty Commiss io n ers Julie Westendorff, Chair " Clyd e Church, Vice Chair " Gwen Lachelt, Commissione r 11()I 1: .I>! 2 I \ \ t' l)u rango. C:( l 8 1.10 1 ( 970) 382 <>2 19 February 26, 2019 Hon. Ajit Pai, Chairman Hon. Michael O'Rielly, Commissioner Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner Hon. Brendan Carr, Commissioner Hon. Geoffrey Starks, Commissioner Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Re: In the Matter of La Plata County, Colorado, Petitions for Modification of the Satellite Television Markets ofKDVR-TV, KCNC-TV, KMGH-TV, and KUSA-TV, Denver, Colorado I MB Docket No. 16-366, CSR No. 8927-A; MB Docket No. 16-367, CSR No. 8928-A; MB Docket No. 16-368, CSR No. 8929-A; MB Docket No. 16-369, CSR No. 8930-A Dear Chairman Pai and Commissioners: As you may know, La Plata County, Colorado is in the Albuquerque direct market area and does not receive Denver or other Colorado broadcast televisions stations. As an "orphan" county, our citizens suffer from not getting Colorado news coverage and related programming. The County filed the above proceeding in October 2016 requesting a market modification, and that request was granted by the Chief of the Media Bureau on March 1, 2017. However, a number of Albuquerque broadcast stations filed an Application for Review of that decision in late March of 2017, and while the matter is pending, no Denver broadcast stations or satellite companies have been willing to negotiate carriage agreements to facilitate this programming in La Plata County. We know that this Commission has advocated for all levels of government to act in a timely manner with respect to decisions related to communications matters within their jurisdictions, and we write today to urge you strongly to please take prompt action to deny the Applications for Special Review and affirm the decision of the Media Bureau. The citizens of La Plata County have waited for almost two years for the Commission to act, and we continue to suffer the effects of being an orphan county, as noted in the Bureau Chiefs Report and Order. Page 2 of2 Re: La Plata County, Colorado, Petitions for Modification of the Satellite Television Markets Please take action to affirm that decision and help facilitate La Plata County's access to the Colorado broadcast programming that all other Colorado citizens currently enjoy. Thank you. Sincerely, LA PLATA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ~WAL~ hilie Westendorff Clyde Church Gwen Lachelt Chair ViceC~ Commissioner cc: Hon. Michael Bennet, United~ Senate Hon. Cory Gardner, United States Senate Hon. Scott Tipton, United States House of Representatives Hon. Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado Hon. Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General Michelle M. Carey, Bureau Chief, Media Bureau