Hart County Receives FCC Approval for Satellite Customers to Receive Atlanta TV Stations

The Federal Communications Commission has approved Hart County’s request to allow satellite customers to access Atlanta TV stations.

Hart County Commissioner Joey Dorsey says word of the approval came through Congressman Doug Collins’ office Monday.

“Hart County Administrator Terrell Partain received a call from U.S. Representative Doug Collins’ office on Monday morning notifying him the FCC modification was approved on Friday for Hart County,” Dorsey said. “…..At this time we still do not know if residents will have a choice or have to go one way or the other. That will be something the individual stations will have to work out.”

In their decision, the FCC said the market modification was a close call, but that it concluded that in such close-call cases, “the outcome that best serves the intent of Congress…is to provide the petitioning orphan county with the access to the in-state programming it is requesting.”

Dorsey said however, the County expects push back from Greenville TV stations.

“We do expect pushback from the South Carolina stations based on what has gone on with the FCC decision in Franklin County. Those stations have already filed paperwork for reconsideration,” he said.

Hart is one of four “orphan” counties, including Stephens, Franklin and Elbert counties whose satellite TV customers can only receive South Carolina TV stations.

So far, Hart and Franklin Counties have received FCC approval.

In Stephens County, the process of putting the required application packet together is ongoing.

A public comment period, which is part of the application process, ended October 8th.

County Clerk Beth Rider said 205 citizens approved of the plan to switch to the Atlanta TV market, while 19 said no.

Those results were included in the application packet.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers tells WNEG News the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, which is handling the FCC application, received the public comment results this week.

Ayers said Stephens County is very close to completing its application and she said it is hoped the packet will be sent to the FCC in the coming weeks.

The Elbert County attorney is handling their FCC application.

Their application was filed in June.