[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29687-29688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14377]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[MM Docket No. 97-247; DA 98-962]


Fees for Ancillary or Supplementary Use of Digital Television 
Spectrum

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 18, 1997, the Commission adopted a Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making in this proceeding, FCC 97-414, regarding the 
assessment of fees for the use of digital television bitstream for the 
provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Comments in this 
proceeding were initially due March 3, 1998, and reply comments were 
due April 2, 1998. By Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing 
Comments of February 23, 1998 (``February 23 Order''), the Mass Media 
Bureau extended the deadline for filing comments to May 4, 1998 and for 
filing reply comments to June 2, 1998. On May 13, 1998, The Office of 
Communication of the United Church of Christ, the Benton Foundation, 
the Center for Media Education, the Civil Rights Forum, and the Media 
Access Project (``Petitioners'') submitted a Request for Extension of 
Time to file reply comments. The Commission hereby grants petitioners 
request and extends the reply comment deadline to August 3, 1998.

DATES: Reply Comments are due on or before August 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St., NW, room 222, 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Duvall, Chief Economist, Mass 
Media Bureau (202) 418-2600, Susanna Zwerling, Policy and Rules 
Division, Mass Media Bureau (202) 418-2140, or Jonathan Levy, Office of 
Plans and Policy (202) 418-2030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Mass Media Bureau's 
Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Reply Comments, DA 98-962 
adopted May 20, 1998 and released May 20, 1998. The full text of this 
Mass Media Bureau Order is available for inspection and copying during 
normal business hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (Room 239), 1919 M 
Street NW, Washington, DC. The complete text of this Order may also be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Services (202) 857-3800 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Synopsis of Order

    On December 18, 1997, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed 
Rule Making 63 FR 460, January 6, 1998, in this proceeding, regarding 
the assessment of fees for the use of digital television bitstream for 
the provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Comments in this 
proceeding were initially due March 3, 1998, and reply comments were 
due April 2, 1998. By Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing 
Comments of February 23, 1998 (``February 23 Order''), the Mass Media 
Bureau extended the deadline for filing comments to May 4, 1998 and for 
filing reply comments to June 2, 1998. On May 13, 1998, The Office of 
Communication of the United Church of Christ, the Benton Foundation, 
the Center for Media Education, the Civil Rights Forum, and the Media 
Access Project (``Petitioners'') submitted a Request for Extension of 
Time to file reply comments. Petitioners contend that additional time 
is necessary to examine, analyze and respond to the economic studies 
filed as comments in this proceeding. Petitioners request that the 
Commission extend the reply comment deadline to August 3, 1998.
    The Commission's Rules state that it is our policy that extensions 
of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be 
routinely granted. 47 CFR 1.46. However, as we stated in the February 
23 Order, the complexity of the instant proceeding and the potential 
benefits of the commenters' economic studies warranted the original 
extension of the comment period. The economic studies submitted by 
commenters are consistent with the Commission's request in paragraph 27 
of the NPRM, that commenters ``make specific recommendations as to the 
level of the fee and type of fee assessment program

[[Page 29688]]

to which the fee is to be tied and to provide evidence to build a 
record supporting those recommendations.'' Petitioners request an 
extension of time so that they can seek to an economist to examine, 
analyze and respond to the various economic studies that have been 
submitted. In order to achieve the full benefits of the economic 
studies filed in this proceeding, and to permit a comprehensive 
analysis of these studies, we will grant petitioners additional time to 
analyze the commenters' studies and to file reply comments. This 
extension can provide the Commission a more complete record in this 
proceeding.
    Accordingly, It is ordered that the time for filing reply comments 
Is extended to August 3, 1998.
    This action is taken pursuant to 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 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the 
Commission's Rules.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1

    Television, Television broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-14377 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-07-P