The article “
I am the president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media and I’m writing together with Justin Sasso, the president and CEO of the Colorado Broadcasters Association.
The truth is that Colorado broadcasters are working to serve La Plata and Montezuma County residents with local, in-state programming and eager to overcome barriers that limit access to information.
While there are still obstacles to overcome, satellite companies continue to refuse local content offered by Colorado’s broadcasters.
The FCC representative quoted in the article provided a false statement on the efforts of Colorado’s broadcasters to solve this issue.
Rocky Mountain PBS is already broadcast in La Plata and Montezuma County (KRMU-Durango) and delivered to cable customers through Charter Communications.
Rocky Mountain PBS has an agreement with KNME-TV to be carried on satellite in the two counties along with New Mexico PBS.
Satellite simply needs to give it a chance and add the channels.
The 2016 letter sent from the Colorado Broadcasters Association to both Colorado senators (and by individual broadcasters to satellite providers) reflects the intent of achieving a successful outcome with satellite carriers and individual broadcast stations.
Additionally, the 2016 Montezuma County Board of Commissioners letter reflects a request for specific Denver broadcasters, while failing to name Rocky Mountain PBS and Spanish-language stations.
Denver-based TV broadcasters continue to work with Durango Government TV to transmit local programming from Denver to the Four Corners. Signals are fed via the internet and made available over the air.
Local broadcasters are responding to La Plata County and Montezuma County, and are eager to collaborate with satellite companies in delivering statewide news and sports to residents – in service to all Coloradans.
Amanda Mountain
Denver
