June 13, 2006 The Honorable Kevin J. Martin Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20554 Re: Carriage of Broadcasters’ Multicast Channels, CS Docket No. 98-120 Dear Chairman Martin: I want to thank you for your leadership and support of cable carriage for all free, over-the-air digital programming offered by local broadcast stations, including multicast channels. Broadcasters are embracing the digital future and are currently multicasting nearly 700 local channels to American households. To highlight our commitment to serving our local communities, below are some examples of how broadcasters are using their digital capacity to serve the public interest. Copies of broadcasters’ detailed submissions in the docket are also attached to this letter. Local Programming. Every day, broadcasters serve their communities with innovative multicast programming. For example: ● KTVB in Boise, Idaho launched a 24-hour all local news multicast channel, specializing in "hyper-local" news, covering events that are important to the local community that would otherwise not generally be aired on the local news broadcast, such as mayoral addresses, local sports, and political debates. In addition, KTVB airs a program on the multicast channel, which provides government officials and political candidates opportunity to address the community. ● KWES in Odessa/Midland, Texas multicasts a Telemundo affiliate carrying eleven 30- minute local Spanish-language newscasts each week. The local Telemundo multicast specializes in providing information on pertinent issues to the community's large Spanish speaking audience. In a few weeks, the station will begin multicasting a third channel, the bilingual LATV network, with further expansion anticipated for a fourth channel, a 24/7 local weather and news channel. The Honorable Kevin J. Martin June 13, 2006 Page 2 ● WPBN-WTOM in Traverse City, Michigan, serving 27 counties in Northern Michigan, currently broadcasts NBC Weather Plus 24-hour weather, and a 24-hour music channel through multicast. ● WFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas has current multicast programming offering extended local news, weather, and sports, as well as emergency coverage, including Hurricane Katrina and Rita coverage. ● KTVX in Salt Lake City, Utah has launched a new channel, The Hive. The Hive is a community-driven local access television channel. Launched in 2005, material on The Hive is largely submitted by viewers, including partnerships with multiple school districts. Content includes locally-produced films, high school sports, public affairs, and a wide variety of entertainment programming. In addition, video simulcasts of Clear Channel’s KZHT-FM has created an exciting local platform dubbed ROTV (Radio on TV). • KHOU in Houston, Texas airs on its multicast channel a local weather web feed, emergency coverage, extended local news, and sporting events of local interest. ● WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina carried on a multicast channel live coverage of a high- profile local murder trial taking place in the community. Without multicast, the station would not have been able to preempt shows to air the trial on its analog signal. ● WREG in Memphis, Tennessee multicasts a 24-hour local news and weather channel, complete with an "L-bar" displaying up to the minute local weather information to the viewing area. During severe weather, the multicast station is used to provide live coverage as long as the station's viewing area is affected. ● KVBC in Las Vegas, Nevada currently multicasts local weather information through the NBC Weather Plus system. • KING in Seattle, Washington, KGW in Portland, Oregon, and WCNC in Charlotte, North Carolina currently air NBC Weather Plus channels, providing views with 24-hour local and national weather coverage. • KONG in Seattle, Washington and KTVK in Phoenix, Arizona provided extended Hurricane Katrina coverage on their multicast channels. ● KENS in San Antonio, Texas, KVUE of Austin, Texas, and WFAA in Dallas, Texas provided extended coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and local breaking news, such as a press conference by the Texas governor concerning border control and public marches concerning immigration issues. The Honorable Kevin J. Martin June 13, 2006 Page 3 • WISH of Indianapolis, Indiana multicast the NCAA men's basketball tournament games, particularly relevant due to the high local basketball interest and large number of Indiana teams participating in the tournament. ● WTVD in Durham, North Carolina currently broadcasts a digital news and weather channel, which provides up-to-the minute critical weather updates, and a second digital channel that broadcasts local informational programming, political coverage, and public affairs programming. ● KSWO in Lawton, Oklahoma operates a Telemundo multicast station as well as a purely local channel specializing in localized community programming. ● Journal Broadcasting Group has begun multicasting a 24-hour local weather service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. • WVEC in Norfolk, Virginia and WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky provide local weather radar and ABC World News Now coverage. • KVUE in Austin, Texas multicasts a local weather channel, ABC World News Now, hurricane coverage, and local breaking news. • KTVN of Reno, Nevada broadcasts a 24/7 local weather program channel. • KPHO TV in Phoenix, Arizona began utilizing multicasting to benefit their market by airing special event programming on multiple channels, including multiple games during the NCAA and PGA Championships. • WISC in Madison, Wisconsin multicasts the station's main feed as well as a UPN affiliate feed complete with local news and programming. • KBFD in Honolulu, Hawaii serves the diverse ethnic make-up of Hawaii residents by providing cultural programming from Asia. ● In order to provide New Orleans residents who evacuated the city after Hurricane Katrina with important local information, Belo Corp.'s WWL-TV, New Orleans, Louisiana, was simulcast on multicast streams by other Belo stations across the country, including Chicago; Boston and Springfield/Holyoke, Massachusetts; Syracuse and Albany, New York; Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut; Birmingham, Alabama; and Panama City, Florida. The Honorable Kevin J. Martin June 13, 2006 Page 4 New Networks. In many markets, multicasting will bring new and innovative network programming to consumers, including: 1) Smart Place for Kids – Launching September 2006. Ion Media Networks, NBC and Telemundo are partnering with Scholastic, NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment and Classic Media/Big Idea to form a unique new children’s network featuring bilingual content for all children. Their common mission is to champion literacy and values for children’s television. 2) Digital Health Network – Launching Late 2006. In addition to a children’s channel, Ion Media Networks plans to launch the country’s first 24-hour digital broadcast network dedicated exclusively to consumer healthcare and healthy living. The mission of the network will be to provide credible, accurate, and life-enhancing information, helping consumers across all age groups, geographies and income levels make informed health decisions on lifestyle, prevention, treatment and post-treatment. 3) CW Network – Launching Fall 2006. CW will feature the best programming from the UPN and the WB. In many markets, including WKRC-DT, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, the CW will anchor a 24/7 schedule that will include local news, local programming and a Radio on TV (ROTV) service. Future Channels Will Provide Greater Programming Choices. In addition to the new networks, individual broadcasters plan to rollout new digital services. Some examples include: • WSJV in South Bend, Indiana plans to provide a local Spanish language channel, including local Spanish language news and translations of popular shows, a 24/7 local/regional news channel, expanded coverage of high school sports coverage, and in- depth political coverage during election years. • KPHO in Phoenix, Arizona began utilizing multicasting to benefit their market by airing special event programming on multiple channels. They plan to develop a 24/7 local news channel, a second 24/7 entertainment and sports channel, channels to air programming devoted to local weather and traffic, and expanded political coverage. • WNBC in New York, New York is launching this September a unique multicast called "WNBC4.4," which will offer a mix of hyper-local arts and entertainment programming. To provide this content, the station has partnered with leaders in the New York City arts and entertainment community like the Tribeca Film Festival, Lincoln Center, Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, and the Bronx Zoo. The station will also offer viewer-contributed content called "blogging for TV." The Honorable Kevin J. Martin June 13, 2006 Page 5 ● WLAJ in Lansing, Michigan is launching this September a multicast stream of programming featuring local news, sports, weather, Big Ten college basketball and football, a local sports talk show, a local women's program, and CW network programming. ● An Arkansas broadcaster plans to broadcast local programming geared toward the outdoor lifestyle of Arkansas, but only if cable carriage can be guaranteed. Clearly, these examples demonstrate broadcasters ability/ and commitment to serving the public interest. But their continued success is dependent on their ability to reach viewers. To ensure the viability