MICHAEL F. BENNET
COLORADO
COMMITTEES:
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
BANKING, HOUSING, AND
URBAN AFFAIRS
HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR,
AND PENSIONS
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0609
January 21, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC:
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON. DC 20510
{202} 224-5852
COLORADO:
2300 15TH STRE(T
SUITE 450
DENVER, CO 80202
(303) 455-7600
hnp:llwww.bennet.senate.gov
Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 li
h
St, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I would like to offer the following comments to the Federal Communications Commission as it begins work on a
report regarding in-state broadcasts as required under Section 304 ofthe Satellite Television and Localism Act
of201 0, As you know two counties in Colorado, La Plata and Montezuma, are 'orphan counties' and are unable
to obtain in-state broadcasts, This unfair anomaly is a major concern to my constituents in Southwest Colorado
who argue persuasively that they should have the same basic ability to see broadcasts from their own state as
every other county in Colorado. I strongly support their view and am committed to working to secure them
access to the television broadcasts that relate to the news, politics, sports and emergency notifications oftheir
own state.
This situation has attracted strong support from the State ofColorado. In both 2008 and 2010 the State
Legislature ofColorado passed resolutions urging the federal government, including the FCC, to take action to
address this situation. The resolution concludes that this situation leaves the citizens of Southwest Colorado
"disenfranchised in that they find themselves much better informed about the laws, issues, and candidates of
New Mexico than they are about the laws, issues, and candidates ofColorado." I could not agree more. To
most interested parties this issue appears easily solvable. However the current system of Designated Market
Areas does not have the required flexibility to address problems such as this. The failure ofWashington, D.C. to
find a pragmatic solution perplexes my constituents and offers many ofthem proofthat Washington is simply
broken.
Thankfully this report, as requested by Congress, offers the FCC an opportunity to put forth a common sense
solution on how to address this problem. I therefore strongly urge the FCC to use this report as the first crucial
step to fix this longstanding problem. Thank you for your attention to this request and I look forward to working
with your Commission to resolve this issue.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Bennet
United States Senator
0099