FCC Seeks Comment for Report Required by the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014

The Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau seeks data, information, and comment for use in preparation of a report required by the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014.

Section 109 of STELAR requires the FCC to submit a report on designated market areas and considerations for fostering increased localism to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 18 months after the date of enactment (i.e., June 3, 2016).To prepare the STELAR Section 109 Report, the Bureau seeks comment on the appropriate methodologies and data sources, as well as the submission of data and information, to analyze the extent consumers have access to broadcast stations located outside their local markets. We ask commenters to identify technologically and economically feasible alternatives to designated market areas that would provide more programming options and the potential impact of such alternatives on localism and on broadcast television locally, regionally, and nationally. We also ask commenters to provide recommendations that would foster localism in counties served by out-of-State DMAs and the impact of such recommendations.