Title
Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board approve a joint letter to Charter Communications from El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe, requesting Charter Communications petition the Federal Communications Commission to add the City of South Lake Tahoe to the Sacramento Designated Market Area so residents can receive KCRA-3 news and other programming. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
South Lake Tahoe residents have long had access to cable television programming from Sacramento, providing critical emergency information, weather, news and election results that impact them. In June 2018, Charter Communications removed KCRA-3 from its offerings, leaving South Lake Tahoe residents with no California-based news channels.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) places the City of South Lake Tahoe in the Reno, NV Designated Market Area (DMA), and Charter Communications is not required to carry programming outside that DMA.
Only commercial broadcast TV stations and cable systems can file a Market Modification Petition with the FCC, which is why CAO staff is recommending El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe elected officials request Charter Communications petition the FCC for a change in DMA to more accurately reflect that South Lake Tahoe is in California and should be provided with critical California news.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the letter, and no request from the County for a Market Modification Petition would be sent to Charter Communications.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
City of South Lake Tahoe
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
CAO recommends the Board of Supervisors approve a joint letter from Chair Ranalli and South Lake Tahoe Mayor Davis requesting Charter Communications petition the FCC for a Market Modification.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
CAO requests the Clerk of the Board obtain the signature of the Chair and return...
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