[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26758-26759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12668]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Chapter 1

[MM Docket No. 98-35; DA: 98-854]


Broadcast Services; Radio Stations, Television Stations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the request of the National Association of 
Broadcasters, the Chief, Mass Media Bureau, acting under delegated 
authority, extends the comment and reply comment deadlines, on whether 
any or all of its broadcast ownership rules are no longer in the public 
interest as a result of competition, for sixty days. The new deadlines 
will be July 21, 1998, for comments and August 21, 1998, for reply 
comments.

DATES: Comments are now due by July 21, 1998, and reply comments are 
due by August 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20554

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Holberg, Mass Media Bureau, 
Policy and Rules Division, (202) 418-2134, or Dan Bring, Mass Media 
Bureau, Policy and Rules Division, (202) 418-2170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's Order 
in MM Docket No. 98-35, DA-854, adopted and released May 7, 1998. The 
complete text of this Order is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and may also be purchased from 
the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 
(202) 857-3800, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. The 
Order is also available on the Internet at the Commission's web site: 
http://www.fcc.gov.:
    1. On March 12, 1998, the Commission, pursuant to Section 202(h) of 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (``Telecom Act''),<SUP>1</SUP> 
adopted a Notice of Inquiry (``Notice''), 63 FR 15353, March 31, 1998, 
in this proceeding soliciting comment on all of the Commission's 
broadcast ownership rules except for those already being examined in 
pending proceedings. The deadline for filing comments was set at May 
22, 1998, and for reply comments June 22, 1998.
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    \1\ Pub. L. No. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996).
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    2. On April 20, 1998, the National Association of Broadcasters 
(``NAB'') filed a ``Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply 
Comment Deadlines'' seeking a sixty-day extension of the comment and 
reply comment deadlines. NAB states that it has identified several 
areas pertinent to the biennial review in which it plans to complete 
research and analysis. It believes that the results of these studies, 
and additional studies currently being

[[Page 26759]]

discussed among NAB's staff and other parties, will be helpful to the 
Commission's inquiry. Furthermore, NAB asserts, the issues raised by 
the Notice, and the NAB's position on them, will be major subjects of 
its Joint Board of Directors meeting scheduled June 27-30, 1998.
    3. We will grant the requested extension. Although the Commission 
has a policy of not routinely granting extensions of time for filing 
comments in rulemaking proceedings <SUP>2</SUP> this proceeding raises 
a number of complex issues concerning the nature, dimension, and 
competitiveness of the several markets in which the subject rules 
operate. A well-documented record will best conduce to an informed 
decision as to which of the Commission's broadcast ownership rules are 
no longer necessary in the public interest as a result of competition. 
Additionally: (1) The National Association of Broadcasters represents 
many of the parties that will most directly be affected by any actions 
we take in this proceeding; (2) it has shown good cause why a sixty-day 
extension will enable it to provide more well-informed comments; and 
(3) no party will be prejudiced by this extension. Rather, all may make 
good use of this added time to prepare and present well-supported 
comments on these important issues.
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    \2\ 47 CFR 1.46.
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    4. This action is taken pursuant to the authority found in Sections 
4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r), and sections 204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the 
Commission's Rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-12668 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P