[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25879-25880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11856]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MM Docket No. 94-123, DA 95-1055]

Television Broadcasting; Prime Time Access Rule
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Commission granted a request by the Coalition to Enhance 
Diversity for an extension of time for filing reply comments in this 
proceeding. The Commission determined that the extension of time was 
warranted in light of the time necessary to compile information 
critical to resolution of the numerous and complex issues raised in 
this proceeding. This action will facilitate the development of a full 
and complete record on these issues.

DATES: Reply comments are now due on May 26, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alan E. Aronowitz, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 776-1653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Adopted: May 8, 1995.
    Released: May 8, 1995.

    By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau: [[Page 25880]] 
    1. On October 25, 1994, the Commission released a Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No. 94-123, 59 FR 55402 (1994) 
(``Notice''), soliciting comment on the legal and policy 
justifications, in light of current economic and technological 
conditions, for the Prime Time Access Rule, Section 73.658(k) of the 
Commission's Rules, and to consider the continued need for the rule in 
its current form. By an Order adopted on December 7, 1994, the deadline 
for filing comments was extended to March 7, 1995, and the deadline for 
filing reply comments was extended to April 6, 1995. See Order Granting 
Extension of Time for Filing Comments and Reply Comments in MM Docket 
No. 94-123, 59 FR 64382 (1994). At the request of a number of 
commenters in this proceeding, the time for filing reply comments was 
substantially extended to May 12, 1995. See Order Granting Extension of 
Time for Filing Comments and Reply Comments in MM Docket No. 94-123, 60 
FR 18793 (April 13, 1995).
    2. On May 3, 1995, a motion for a further extension of time for 
filing reply comments in this proceeding was filed by the Coalition to 
Enhance Diversity, which states that it is authorized to represent the 
Association of Independent Television Stations, Inc., Capital Cities/
ABC, Inc., CBS Inc., King World Productions, Inc., the Media Access 
Project, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., the National 
Broadcasting Company, Inc., the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance, 
and Viacom, Inc. (``Joint Petitioners'') in this request. The motion 
requests that the deadline for filing reply comments be extended from 
May 12, 1995, to May 26, 1995.
    3. The Joint Petitioners contend that the comments filed in this 
proceeding include detailed economic studies on all sides of the issues 
raised in the Notice. In order to properly evaluate these various 
economic studies, the parties have agreed to make available certain 
data underlying those studies, which information has recently become 
available and accessible for review at the Commission. (To accommodate 
the parties, this information is available at the Commission's 
Washington, D.C., headquarters and at the field office in Hayward, 
California.) These parties, who take differing views on the continued 
need for the Prime Time Access Rule, state that a brief extension of 
time will permit the completion of the evaluations and critiques of the 
comprehensive economic analyses submitted in this proceeding as called 
for in the Notice. These parties maintain that the grant of this 
request for a short extension of time will serve the public interest by 
permitting a more thorough public and industry review of the economic 
data, which would, in turn, facilitate the submission of reply comments 
that will prove more useful in generating the comprehensive record that 
the Commission seeks in this proceeding.
    4. As set forth in Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing comments in 
rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. However, under 
the circumstances described above, we believe that the requested 
extension of time to file reply comments is warranted. This extension 
of time should facilitate the development of a full and complete record 
on the issues raised in the Notice and, thus, it appears reasonable to 
provide the commenting parties additional time to analyze and address 
these issues.
    5. Accordingly, It is Ordered that the above-mentioned motion for 
an extension of time Is Granted, and that the time for filing reply 
comments in this proceeding is Extended to May 26, 1995.
    6. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Sections 
4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and 
Sec. 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the Commission's Rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 94-11856 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
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