\u201cIt\u2019s a patience game, for sure,\u201d said Megan Graham, spokeswoman for La Plata County.<\/p>\n For years, La Plata County residents have demanded in-state television programming from Denver, desiring more relevant access to Colorado news, weather and sports.<\/p>\n La Plata County has historically received programming from Albuquerque, earning it the moniker \u201corphan county,\u201d a term for a community that receives television programming from a location out of state.<\/p>\n In March, the FCC granted a petition<\/a> submitted by La Plata County Commissioners that effectively allowed satellite providers, in this case Direct TV<\/a> and DISH Network<\/a>, to partner with ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates in Denver.<\/p>\n However, several Albuquerque television stations petitioned in opposition of the decision in an effort to block Denver stations of the same network from reaching La Plata County viewers.<\/p>\n KOAT-TV<\/a>, an ABC affiliate, and NBC affiliate KOB-TV<\/a>, both of Albuquerque, told the FCC they oppose the county\u2019s request for those respective Denver channels. They asserted that four statutory factors disqualify La Plata County from a market modification, including that the county has not historically carried Denver stations, Denver lacks geographic proximity, Denver stations lack \u201cany meaningful audience\u201d in the county, and the county receives \u201cample technical coverage and local programming\u201d from Albuquerque stations.<\/p>\n LIN, a licensee of CBS and Fox affiliate stations, also filed a petition with respect to the county\u2019s request for access to Denver stations KDVR (Fox)<\/a> and KCNC (CBS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Albuquerque stations\u2019 petition is unresolved. Representatives with the FCC did not immediately return requests seeking comment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Despite the petition, the FCC\u2019s decision currently still stands, which means satellite providers and Denver stations are still free to provide La Plata County residents access to Denver TV.<\/p>\n The looming appeal seems to have satellite providers and broadcast stations wary to engage in negotiations before a final decision is made.<\/p>\n \u201cDISH wants to help increase access to Colorado TV stations for its customers in La Plata County,\u201d DISH spokesman John Hall said in an emailed response to The Durango Herald. \u201cThe FCC\u2019s initial grant of approval for satellite carriers to provide certain Denver TV stations to La Plata County is undergoing a legal challenge from broadcasters in New Mexico, and currently there is no timeline for the process to be complete.\u201d<\/p>\n Representatives with Direct TV, as well as ABC, NBC and CBS, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. A spokeswoman with Fox declined to comment for this story.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s common sense that Coloradans should have access to Colorado news, especially during times of emergency,\u201d said Laurie Cipriano, press secretary for Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. \u201cNow that the FCC has ruled in La Plata County\u2019s favor on their petition, we should move forward in order to bring Denver television to La Plata County as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n For La Plata County residents wanting their own state\u2019s news, weather and sports, it seems like no serious headway will be made until the FCC makes its decision on the Albuquerque stations\u2019 appeal.<\/p>\n Graham said the county regularly fields questions from residents on when Denver programming is coming to Southwest Colorado. But the answer, for now, is unsatisfying.<\/p>\n \u201cWe continue to be very involved in advocating for access to Denver TV both at the FCC level and encouraging providers to reach an agreement on broadcasting,\u201d Graham said. \u201cBut that\u2019s not something La Plata County has a (direct) role in.\u201d<\/p>\n