By Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton
Colorado residents deserve the chance to watch Colorado television, plain and simple. But as residents in La Plata and Montezuma counties know, satellite subscribers in the Four Corners haven’t had that opportunity.
For years, we’ve been trying to fix that.
Satellite TV subscribers in Southwestern Colorado live in what’s known as an “orphan county,” which means their counties have been placed in a television market outside of their state. As a result, they lack access to Colorado television and instead receive news, sports and weather from Albuquerque broadcasters. That means that Coloradans living in La Plata and Montezuma counties have been forced to watch the Dallas Cowboys or New Mexico ads while their neighbors in Silverton and Pagosa Springs can watch the Denver Broncos and Colorado television.
Over the last several years, we have taken steps toward finding a solution to this problem. In 2014, Congress passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization. This legislation included our provision that would allow local governments of “orphan counties,” like La Plata and Montezuma, to petition the Federal Communications Commission to request a change in their local TV market so that satellite subscribers can receive in-state television broadcasts.
In 2016, after we worked together with the local communities to push the FCC to open the petition process, La Plata County commissioners finally were able to request, on their constituents’ behalf, that the FCC move the county into the Denver TV market.
Earlier this year, the FCC granted their request, specifically citing Congress’s intent to provide constituents access to in-state television broadcasts that give them better insight into local affairs.
There is still more work to be done.
Recently, out-of-state broadcasters objected to the FCC’s action. We believe that challenge is misguided and support the La Plata County Commission’s response to that objection, which underscores the community’s demand for Denver TV.
As this process unfolds, we will continue to stand together to champion the best interests of our constituents.
Regardless of which corner of the state they live in, Coloradans should have access to Colorado TV.
Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Denver, represent Colorado in the U.S. Senate. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
