[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1314-1315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-706]
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[[Page 1315]]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MM Docket No. 87-268, DA 96-8]
Advanced Television Services
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed Rule; extension of reply comment period.
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SUMMARY: This action, in response to a request indicating good cause to
extend the reply comment period, made by Robert K. Graves of R.K.
Graves Associates, on behalf of the HDTV Grand Alliance, extends the
deadline for filing reply comments to the Fourth Further Notice of
Proposed Rule Making and Third Notice of Inquiry in the above-cited
docket. The intended effect of this action is to allow the parties to
the proceeding to have additional time in which to file reply comments.
DATES: Reply comments are due on or before January 22, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Saul Shapiro (202-418-2600) or Roger Holberg (202-418-2130), Mass Media
Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order Granting
Extension of the Time for Filing Reply Comments in MM Docket No. 87-
268, DA 96-8, adopted January 11, 1996 and released January 11, 1996.
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 also may be purchased from
the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service,
(202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037.
Synopsis of Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Reply Comments
1. On July 28, 1995, the Commission, as part of its ongoing
Advanced Television rulemaking proceeding, adopted a Fourth Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Notice of Inquiry (``Fourth
Further Notice''), 10 FCC Rcd 10540, 60 FR 42130 (August 15, 1995).
Comments on the Fourth Further Notice were due October 18, 1995, and
reply comments on December 4, 1995. These deadlines were subsequently
extended to November 15, 1995 and January 12, 1996, respectively in
Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Comments and Reply
Comments, DA 95-2137, 60 FR 53902 (October 18, 1995). By Public Notice,
DA 96-2, released July 11, 1996, the Commission, by delegated
authority, provided that documents due to be filed on January 11 or 12,
1996 would be due instead on January 16, 1996.
2. An extension of time to reply comments until January 26, 1996
was requested by Robert K. Graves of R. K. Graves Associates, on behalf
of the HDTV Grand Alliance (``Graves''), on the grounds that: (1) the
volume of the comments covering a broad range of issues has made it
difficult to prepare thoughtful and thorough responses within the
current time frame; (2) the closure of the Commission as part of the
partial federal government shutdown last November caused the comments
to be filed on November 20 or later, at least five days after the
scheduled due date; (3) the preoccupation of the Grand Alliance and
other parties with preparations for the December 12 en banc hearing
made it impossible to begin preparing reply comments until after the
hearing and demonstrations; (4) a substantial body of additional
testimony was filed in connection with the hearing, requiring further
analysis; and (5) the blizzard of 1996 has made it very difficult for
those involved in preparing the reply for the Grand Alliance to
communicate and share information effectively during the last week.
Graves also notes that it has been impossible to request and extension
earlier because the Commission has been closed, first because of the
partial Government shutdown due to lack of appropriations and then
because of the bad weather.
3. We find that good cause exists for granting a short extension of
the reply comment deadlines in order to afford the parties an adequate
opportunity for reasoned replies to the comments in this proceeding and
are aware that the Fourth Further Notice raised many complex issues.
Further, the blizzard of 1996, an extremely unusual event, has stalled
mail deliveries, disrupted transit, and forced many workplaces to
close, among other things, and has therefore undoubtedly complicated
efforts to complete the reply comments, particularly for those parties
whose comments required coordination among multiple entities or
persons. However, we hesitate to extend the reply comment date until
January 26, 1996, as requested because we do not want to unnecessarily
delay the conclusion of this lengthy proceeding. Accordingly, we will
grant a short extension of the reply comment deadline until January 22,
1996.
4. Accordingly, it is ordered, that the letter request, filed by
Robert K. Graves on behalf of the HDTV Grand Alliance, seeking an
extension of time in which to file reply comments in response to the
Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Notice of
Inquiry in MM Docket No. 87-268, is granted to the extent indicated
herein and, in all other respects is denied.
5. It is further ordered, that the time for filing reply comments
in the above-captioned proceeding is extended to January 22, 1996.
6. 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. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.45
of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. Secs. 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.45.
Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-706 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
