A county in the Lone Star State petitioned the FCC to modify the satellite television markets for a group of stations in the Tyler-Longview DMA, as well as a big Dallas-market station.
The Senior Deputy Chief of the Media Division’s Policy Division reviewed the request, and on Wednesday made his decision: No.
The petition came from the government of Titus County, Tex., home to some 32,330 people situated to the west of Texarkana and to the north of Longview, Tex.
As far as Titus County is concerned, it wants relevant television channels on DISH Network and DirecTV for those in the county that subscribe to either DBS provider.
Those stations would be Tyler-Longview DMA stations KLTV-7 (ABC), owned by Gray Television; Nexstar-owned KETK-56 (NBC) and managed KFXK-51 (FOX); and TEGNA-owned KYTX-19 (CBS).
Additionally, the county requests that CBS O&O KTVT-11 in Dallas have its market modified so that Titus County DBS subscribers are able to view the station.
There was just one problem in the eyes of Steven Broeckaert: “Titus’s Petition includes very limited supporting evidence.”
As such, the petition was rejected. However, Titus County may refile its petition, along with the “necessary additional evidence.”
As Broeckaert explains, Titus provided maps showing the location of the county relative to state and DMA boundaries. “None of these maps, however, illustrate the relevant ‘evidence contributing to the scope of the market’ that is required by section 76.59(b)(1) of our rules. Titus seeks no waiver with respect to this section of the rules.”
The county also failed to procure information provided to the FCC.
As such, the final determination was for Titus County to go back to the drawing board, and come up with a stronger petition adhering to Commission rules.
It’s now up to county administrators to decide whether or not to do so.
