I’m writing this column in response to a letter printed in the Albert Lea Tribune on June 18 regarding the availability of Twin Cities TV stations on Charter Communications.

Charter fully recognizes the frustration over this issue. Please understand the rules that govern the distribution of local television signals are complex and not at all logical. Let me try and explain.

The Federal Communications Commission establishes rules intended to protect the local TV markets from the advancements in technology. This technology (cable, fiber-optics, satellite) diminish the reliance on over-the-air reception of TV signals and allow the importation of broadcast signals from distant markets by cable and satellite companies.

It has been the FCC’s and policymakers’ position that having a local TV market helps strengthen a community by providing local jobs, news coverage, regional interest programming, a local advertising outlet and community support. The belief is that the incursion of distant broadcast channels would challenge the success of the smaller local channels such as KAAL and KTTC and hence homogenize the area.

OK, so now you want to know how Charter or the satellite companies can carry Twin Cities or Mankato broadcast stations in other markets, including Albert Lea. This is where the illogical part really comes into play.

The FCC rules define the local TV market based on Nielsen Media Research (the TV ratings people) data of over-the-air (non-cable or satellite) channel reception in a particular county. This data indicates the strength of the TV signal in the area and the aggregate counties are then combined into a “Designated Market Area,” or DMA. Presently Albert Lea is part of the Rochester/Mason City/Austin DMA. (Dodge, Olmsted, Freeborn, Mower and Fillmore counties in Minnesota. Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Hancock, Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties in Iowa)

But wait, there’s more to confuse the issues. Because certain counties reside on the fringe of TV signals from two separate DMAs, there are a horde of special exceptions created that allow cable and satellite companies to avoid extremely harsh penalties for carrying a TV station outside their DMA. Each one of these exceptions is unique to the specific county within the DMA. Therefore, while it’s logical to believe the Charter lineup should be the same in Albert Lea as in Rochester or Blue Earth, it’s unfortunately not that easy.

As an example, Albert Lea and Rochester are in the same DMA but have dramatically different exceptions for allowed distant TV stations because of grandfather rules, signal reception and their county of origin. And in the ultimate illogical determination, Blue Earth, in Faribault County, right next to Albert Lea and Freeborn County, is part of the Minneapolis/St. Paul DMA and must receive all the Twin Cities TV stations.

The satellite companies usually choose to avoid the local complexity and not deliver their signal on a county-specific basis and carry only the local DMA stations. (Please note: There’s a completely different set of rules for public-broadcast stations and their delivery by satellite providers, which contradicts the prior statement)

Charter Communications recognizes that there are local, historic, market demands and chooses to undertake the exceptions and provide all the signals allowed in the particular county in the DMA under the rules when possible.

Charter Communication appreciates the local communities and values greatly the residents who choose our services over the competition. We will always attempt to provide the best services, product choices and value now and in the future. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Arne “Tucker” Carlson is the director of government relations in Minnesota at Charter Communications.