SCBC approves “next step” in lifting Orphan County status

Stephens County will continue the fight to have its “Orphan County” status lifted by the FCC.

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners voted and approved a motion to have county staff work with the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission (GMRC) to begin the next steps of the FCC petition.

According to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, GMRC has agreed to assist in the filing of an opposition petition to the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville stations, who recently filed an appeal to overturn the FCC’s decision.

Similar to Stephens County, Franklin County has been working on its own opposition position to the Carolinas stations’ appeal after receiving the FCC’s approval; however, County Manager Beth Thomas says the opposition petition has been tedious.

Stephens, Franklin, Hart and Elbert counties are all considered orphan counties because their citizens with satellite service are not receiving Georgia local news, weather, or sports from their home state TV stations.

Along with Stephens County, both Franklin and Hart counties have received approval from the FCC.

In their decision, the FCC said Stephens County’s requested market modification was a close call, but that it is 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.”

However, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville Stations continue to delay the switch by submitting appeals.

At this time, it is uncertain when or if Stephens County residents will gain access to the Atlanta stations.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they become available.