[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31503]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MM Docket No. 96-197; DA 96-2036]
Newspaper/Radio Cross-Ownership Waiver Policy
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry; extension of comment and reply comment
period.
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SUMMARY: This action extends the deadline for filing comments and reply
comments to the Notice of Inquiry in the above-cited docket. It is
taken in response to requests to extend the comment and reply comment
period made by the law firm of Haley Bader & Potts. The intended effect
of this action is to allow the parties to the proceeding to have
additional time in which to file comments and reply comments.
DATES: Comments are due on or before February 7, 1997, and reply
comments are due on or before March 7, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Holberg (202-418-2130) or
Charles Logan (202-418-2130), Mass Media Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order granting an
extension of time for filing comments and reply comments in MM Docket
No. 96-197, DA 96-2036, adopted December 5, 1996, and released December
5, 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 Comments
1. On October 1, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry
(``NOI'') in this proceeding, 61 FR 53694, October 15, 1996, regarding
its policy for waiving the newspaper/radio cross ownership restriction
set forth in Section 73.3555(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR
73.3555(d). The NOI invited comment on a variety of questions related
to possible revisions to the Commission's current waiver policy.
Comments were due to be filed by December 9, 1996, and reply comments
by January 8, 1997.
2. On November 7, 1996, the Commission released three notices of
proposed rule making concerning (1) the broadcast attribution rules,
which define what constitutes a ``cognizable interest'' in applying the
broadcast multiple ownership rules, Further Notice of Proposed Rule
Making in MM Docket Nos. 94-150/92-51/87-154, FCC 96-436 (``FNPRM'');
(2) the local television ownership rules, including the television
duopoly rule and the radio-television cross-ownership rule, Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-221/87-8,
FCC 96-438 (``FNPRM''); and (3) the national television ownership rule,
Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 96-222/91-221/87-8,
FCC 96-437. The comment date established for each of these three
rulemaking proceedings is February 7, 1997, and the due date for reply
comments is March 7, 1997.
3. On November 27, 1996, the law firm of Haley Bader & Potts filed
a Request For Extension Of Comment Date (``Request'') to extend the
comment and reply comment deadlines in connection with the NOI in MM
Docket No. 96-197 to February 7, 1997 and March 7, 1997, respectively.
In support of its Request, Haley Bader & Potts asserts that the above-
referenced rule makings raise issues that are strongly related to those
raised in the NOI. We are mindful that Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's
Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, articulates a Commission policy that extensions of
time for filing comments in rule making proceedings are not to be
routinely granted. Nevertheless, we find that good cause exists for
granting the requested extension of the comment and reply comment
deadlines. As Haley, Bader & Potts points out, the issues raised by the
FNPRM are relevant to the newspaper/radio cross-ownership rule in that
the attribution rules define what constitutes a cognizable ownership
interest in a radio station or daily newspaper. In addition, many of
the same competition and diversity concerns that underlie the
newspaper/radio cross-ownership restriction are also raised in our
examination of the television duopoly rule and radio-television cross-
ownership rule. Given the similarity of the issues raised in the NOI
and the three rulemaking proceedings, we believe it is appropriate that
they share the same comment and reply comment deadlines. This will
enable interested parties to submit more complete comments regarding
the interrelated issues raised by these separate proceedings. This, in
turn, will result in a more comprehensive record for the Commission to
consider in assessing whether to revise its newspaper/radio cross-
ownership waiver policy as well as its broadcast attribution and
television ownership rules.
4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the request filed by Haley Bader
& Potts for an extension of time in which to file comments and reply
comments in response to the Notice of Inquiry in MM Docket 96-197 is
granted.
5. It is further ordered, that the time for filing comments in the
above-captioned proceeding is extended to February 7, 1997, and the
time for filing reply comments is extended to March 7, 1997.
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. 154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45.
Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-31503 Filed 12-9-96; 10:54 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
