Franklin Co. Still Looking At TV “Orphan County” Issue

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Franklin County is continuing its push to force Satellite TV providers to include Atlanta TV stations in their program line up for Northeast Georgia customers.

At their meeting earlier this month, Franklin County Commissioners heard from County Manager Beth Thomas on her research regarding the so-called “orphan counties” regulations listed by the Federal Communications Commission.

Thomas said Franklin and surrounding counties must file a petition with the FCC to get Georgia TV stations.

“The FCC satellite modification rules allow the satellite carriers, the broadcasters and the county governments to file a petition with the FCC,” Thomas explained “Now the local governments can only file modification requests with respect to satellite modifications, not cable TV. The FCC will determine whether to adopt a modification based on five qualifying factors.”

However, Thomas said the FCC strongly recommends that counties not petition the FCC by themselves but enlist the support of the satellite television providers as well.

“In addition, the satellite carrier and the broadcaster must be willing participants. Even if you bring in a station it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to ge the other parties to be willing participants.”

In December of 2014, Congress approved and the President signed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act.

The law reauthorized satellite providers to provide service for another five years.

One problem, however, is that Satellite TV providers in our area do not provide metro Atlanta stations, only South Carolina local network stations because of an FCC ruling regarding distance to transmissions.

Because counties such as Franklin, Hart, and Stephens counties are in Georgia, they are considered “orphan counties” because they cannot receive Georgia TV stations via satellite.

Franklin County has been working with Congressman Doug Collins’ office to change that ruling.

Thomas said she is continuing her research and working with other surrounding counties.

“With the limited orphan counties in our area, we’re still researching the proper process,” Thomas said. “The surrounding counties have been in communicationn with each other and we will continue to work on what’s next. Personally, I think our next step is talking to our satellite carriers that represent this area to see if we can get them to change because without their help writing a letter to the FCC will not work.”

Franklin County Commission Chair Thomas Bridges said there is a lot more work to do.

Thomas noted Congressman Collins has been very helpful in trying to get the counties in Northeast Georgia off the orphan county list.