Another Wildfire, Another Day of Congress Putting Lives at Risk
8 April 2021: Early on the morning of Thursday, 8 April, I sent an email to Pinal County Supervisor Cavanaugh requesting an update on the efforts of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors to get Congress to act to fix the flawed, dangerous, and unfair STELA legislation. About three hours later the Margo Fire broke out 22 miles from Oracle, forcing an entire community to be evacuated. The top photo shows the smoke visible from my driveway. The bottom photo shows a water dropping helicopter that passed over my home en route to the fire.
I've said it many times: the next crisis could be weeks, days, or hours away, and this crisis was just hours after my raising the issue once again.
Congressman Tom O'Halleran's staff has not responded to my email to them of 22 March 2021. As a result of the Margo Fire, I sent them a follow-up email:
As I hope you know, the Margo Fire broke out in Pinal County on 8 April, forcing an entire community to be evacuated.
I've said it many times: the next crisis could be weeks, days, or hours away. The Margo Fire is less than three weeks from my previous communication to you.
When will the House Energy and Commerce Committee take this issue seriously?
How much longer will Congress let the flawed STELA legislation and the FCC DMA put local lives at risk?
Mike Weasner
Oracle, Arizona
As of Friday morning, 9 April, the Margo Fire has burned 500 acres, was 20% contained, and has destroyed at least 12 homes.
Since 2013 I have been telling members of Congress and the FCC that the STELA legislation and the FCC Designated Market Area regulation puts southern Pinal County lives at risk and harms businesses in both Pinal and Pima counties. The pandemic and Bighorn Fire crises in 2020 proved me right, yet Congress and the FCC have failed to take needed corrective action. The Margo Fire is a further demonstration of how dangerous STELA is. It is critical that southern Pinal County satellite TV customers be allowed to receive all Tucson TV stations, instead of the more distant Phoenix TV stations.
Some members of Congress assume that the Internet is a viable solution for their constituents. However, it is NOT a solution for citizens who have unreliable Internet, or do not have or DO NOT WANT to use the Internet for security reasons. And local advertising is not always available via Internet streaming. This is just another Congressional band-aid solution, and like all Congress band-aid solutions, the wounds will continue to bleed.
16 and 20 April 2021: I received responses to a communication sent to Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly. As their responses were non-responsive to the issue, I sent this in reply to each of them.
I received your response with the history of the STELA legislation. However, the response does NOT address the issue that I have been raising with Congress since 2013. The STELA legislation puts local lives at risk and harms local businesses by banning viewing of the Tucson TV stations in southern Pinal County. Tucson is about 30 miles from some viewers, yet STELA and the FCC Designated Market Area regulation require that we receive only the Phoenix TV stations, 120 miles away. By not letting us view local news, weather, and emergency information via our satellite TV provider, Congress is putting our lives at risk. By prohibiting us from viewing local business advertising, Congress is hurting businesses in both Pinal and Pima counties. As you know, local terrain here blocks receiving over-the-air broadcasting and there are no cable TV providers serving many areas of southern Pinal County. Some members of Congress assume that the Internet is a viable solution for their constituents. However, it is NOT a solution for citizens who have unreliable Internet, or do not have or DO NOT WANT to use the Internet for security reasons, and do not want to be forced to pay TWICE for local TV reception. And local advertising is not always available via Internet streaming. This is just another Congressional band-aid solution, and like all such solutions, the wounds will continue to bleed. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Bighorn and Margo wildfires were local crises that have proved that STELA puts lives at risk. Congress needs to fix STELA now and stop waiting for the next crisis.
I know that changing the flawed STELA legislation is a challenge. It is unfortunate that no member of Congress seems to be up to that challenge.
25 April 2021: I sent the following to Congressman Tom O'Halleran, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, and the president of the Arizona Broadcasters Association.
Published today:
https://www.pinalcentral.com/arizona_news/get-ready-for-a-busy-year-fighting-wildfires-experts-in-arizona-warn/article_a9ce40f9-0d96-5eee-8511-3770ff03ba76.html
Some members of Congress assume that the Internet is a viable solution for their constituents. However, it is NOT a solution for citizens who have unreliable Internet, do not have or DO NOT WANT to use the Internet for security reasons, or do not want to be forced to pay TWICE for local TV reception. Also, local advertising is not always available via Internet streaming. This is just another Congressional band-aid solution, and like all such solutions, the wounds will continue to bleed. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Bighorn and Margo wildfires were local crises that have proved that STELA puts lives at risk.
How much longer will Congress let the flawed STELA legislation endanger local lives?
I have been trying to get STELA fixed since 2013. How much longer must Arizonians wait for Congressional action?
Mike Weasner
Oracle, Arizona
27 April 2021: Congressman O'Halleran posted this on Facebook to remind his constituents to use trusted local news sources, but he continues to let STELA prohibit just that for some of his constituents.
Knowledge of fire safety and prevention is critical as we prepare for a potentially dangerous fire season this year. Arizonans can stay up to date by following trusted local news sources and visiting my website for Arizona wildfire resources. https://bit.ly/2QYhMb8
Is this just another case of Congress saying the right thing to make up for failing to do the right thing?
Legal Actions Pursued against Congress STELA Legislation
Main Flawed STELA Legislation page