Bergman talks TV with county commission

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Bessemer - The congressman for Michigan's First Congressional District spoke on the issue of local network television options for county residents at the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday. 

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, said his office is involved in an ongoing effort to ensure that cable and satellite companies offer all county residents the option of selecting Michigan television stations as their local channel preferences. As of now, some do have that option while other county residents do not, he said.

The Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) regulating network station retransmission agreements with cable and satellite television services, was allowed to expire this year. The act contained "local-into-local service" requirements for satellite television to provide out-of-market broadcast stations that are determined by the Federal Communications Commission to be "significantly viewed" by the community.

The FCC lists the Gogebic County significantly viewed stations KDLH-3, KBJR-6, and WDIO-10, all of Duluth, Minnesota, along with WJFW-12, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The list for Ontonagon County includes WLUC-6, in Marquette; KDLH-3, Duluth, and WJFW-12, Rhinelander. Without the act, the networks, cable and phone carriers are not regulated by the list in their agreements to provide network services to television or streaming services.

Currently, some cities and townships have the option of selecting Marquette along with stations in Rhinelander, Wisconsin or Duluth, Minnesota - but for Watersmeet and a few other areas there is no Michigan option, Bergman said. It is clear that the act was antiquated and cumbersome. 

The satellite and cable television services saw the act as unnecessary with the advancement of digital media technology. Streaming and network subscription services make these markets available to households with high speed internet capability.

At the same time, Bergman said there is a role for legislation to ensure that local residents have the local Michigan station option. It's important if only to ensure adequate service for local emergency services, he said.

"We're looking at this from the standpoint of not wasting time and resources, especially limited resources at your (county) level, to break down the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that have been put in place, for probably a good reason at one time," Bergman said. "But it's now the time to create the exceptions that do not drain anybody's pocketbook."

As the work unfolds there might be a time for an appropriate communication from the county, he said. This might be to the FCC or to support Congressional efforts to support a change that could include allowing people the option of local channels to come out of Marquette.

The FCC, the networks and the media providers each have a role, he said. So does the county  in contacting the constituents to help with the ground work at the Marquette office and in Washington, D.C.

James Lorenson, county commissioner, said that the FCC's significantly viewed list does not reflect the reality that Gogebic County is large enough and situated so that one area would consider a different local channel than another. He said it is ironic that Duluth and Rhinelander are assigned as local market channels but that Marquette, which is of relatively equal distance, is not.

The Michigan Townships Association worked on the issue prior to the sunset of the STELA Act, he said. The association found that the work required for counties to petition the FCC for restoration of services "appears to be very daunting," he said. 

"I get it. My family would like to see Marquette too," Lorenson said. "But we would need help from your office, which you are already doing, to look at how this could be done in a relatively cost-effective manner."

In other business, the commission approved an easement for the city of Bessemer to cross county right-of-ways to connect to city water lines with a Gogebic Range Water Authority water main at Tilden tank. The easement may have transferred with the quitclaim of the deed by the county road commission, according to commissioners, but the commission approval of the easement would serve to satisfy any issue with the deed or easement that could arise.

The commission approved the county administrator's pursuit of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development grant application to replace a 30-year-old boiler in the Natural Resources Center. The Forestry and Parks Commission has agreed to pay the 25% match required for the grant if the funding is awarded.

The commission went into closed session regarding pending litigation on a property foreclosure matter. The commission came back into regular session and authorized entering into the lawsuit pending further review and a recommendation from legal counsel. 

The commission also approved: 

-Release of fiscal year 2021 first and second quarter appropriation to Gogebic-Iron County Airport.

-Release of fiscal year 2021 first and second quarter appropriation to the Gogebic County Fair.

-Advertising and selecting an upcoming vacancy on the Gogebic County Fair Board. 

-Rescheduling the Nov. 11 regular meeting to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 due to Veterans Day.

-Placing two county vehicles on the surplus auction list.