[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32706-32707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16106]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 76

[CS Docket No. 96-46; FCC 96-256]


Telecommunications Act of 1996

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This Order waives the Commission's rules regarding the filing 
of oppositions to petitions for reconsideration and replies. This is 
necessary to provide the Commission with sufficient time to address 
issues raised on reconsideration and to implement Section 653 of the 
Communications Act. This Order establishes the date by which 
oppositions to petitions for reconsideration must be filed and provides 
that replies to oppositions will not be accepted.

DATES:  This rule is effective June 25, 1996. Petitions for 
reconsideration are due on or before July 5, 1996, and oppositions to 
petitions for reconsideration are due on or before July 15, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Meryl S. Icove, Cable Services 
Bureau, (202) 418-7200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order in CS Docket 
No. 96-46, FCC 96-256, adopted June 6, 1996 and released June 7, 1996. 
The complete text of this Order is available

[[Page 32707]]

for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center (room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC, and 
also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
International Transcription Services, Inc. (``ITS Inc.'') at (202) 857-
3800, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20017.

Synopsis of Order

    1. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 added Section 653 to the 
Communications Act of 1934, establishing a new framework for entry into 
the video programming marketplace, the open video system. The 1996 Act 
required that the Commission, within six months after the date of 
enactment of the 1996 Act, ``complete all actions necessary (including 
any reconsideration) to prescribe regulations'' to govern the operation 
of open video systems. The Commission issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking on March 11, 1996. 61 FR 10496 (March 14, 1996). On May 31, 
1996, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order implementing 
Section 653. Pursuant to the 1996 Act, the Commission must issue an 
order on reconsideration by August 8, 1996.
    2. The Communications Act, and the Commission's rules, require that 
petitions for reconsideration of a Commission order may be filed within 
thirty days from the date upon which public notice is given of the 
order. Public notice of the Second Report and Order was given on June 
5, 1996, when a summary of the order was published in the Federal 
Register. 61 FR 28698 (June 5, 1996). Petitions for reconsideration are 
due, therefore, on July 5, 1996. In order to afford the Commission 
sufficient time to review the issues raised in the petitions and to 
meet its statutory requirement to issue an order on reconsideration by 
August 8, 1996, we believe it is in the public interest for the 
Commission to waive its rules regarding the filing of oppositions to 
petitions for reconsideration and replies to oppositions. We are 
waiving Section 1.429(f) to provide that oppositions must be filed by 
July 15, 1996. We are also waiving Section 1.429(g) and will not accept 
any replies to oppositions. Finally, in order to afford the fullest 
consideration possible to the issues raised on reconsideration, we 
strongly encourage parties to file pleadings in advance of the 
deadlines.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 76

    Open video systems.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-16106 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
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