[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5237]
[[Page 10180]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[MM Docket No. 97-247; DA 98-354]
Fees for Ancillary or Supplementary Use of Digital Television
Spectrum Pursuant to Section 336(e)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of
1996
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of 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) (``NPRM'')
regarding the assessment of fees for the use of digital television
bitstream for the provision of ancillary or supplementary services.
Comments in this proceeding are presently due March 3, 1998, and reply
comments are due April 2, 1998. On February 19, 1998, the National
Association of Broadcasters (``Petitioner'') submitted a Motion for
Extension of Time to file comments in response to the NPRM, requesting
that the Commission extend the comment deadline to May 4, 1998, and the
reply comment deadline to June 2, 1998. The Motion for Extension of
Time is granted.
DATES: Comments are due on or before May 4, 1998 and Reply Comments are
due on or before June 2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St., N.W., 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 Comments, DA 98-354 adopted
February 23, 1998 and released February 23, 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 N.W., Washington, D.C. 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, N.W., Suite 140,
Washington, D.C. 20037.
Synopsis of Order
On December 18, 1997, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making in this proceeding (FCC 97-414) (``NPRM'') regarding the
assessment of fees for the use of digital television bitstream for the
provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Comments in this
proceeding are presently due March 3, 1998, and reply comments are due
April 2, 1998.
On February 19, 1998, the National Association of Broadcasters
(``Petitioner'') submitted a Motion for Extension of Time to file
comments in response to the NPRM. Petitioner contends that additional
time is necessary for the preparation of research studies in response
to the NPRM which have been commissioned by petitioner in conjunction
with broadcast television networks. It requests that the Commission
extend the comment deadline to May 4, 1998, and the reply comment
deadline to June 2, 1998.
In section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, it is our policy that
extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall
not be routinely granted. However, because of the complexity of the
instant proceeding, and the potential benefits of the petitioner's
studies, we believe an extension of the comment deadline for the NPRM
is warranted. In the NPRM, at paragraph 27, the Commission
``encouraged[d] commenters to make specific recommendations as to the
level of the fee and type of fee assessment program to which the fee is
to be tied and to provide evidence to build a record supporting those
recommendations.'' To facilitate such efforts, we will grant petitioner
additional time to complete its research studies which can provide the
Commission a more complete record in this proceeding.
Accordingly, It is ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time
filed in MM Docket No. 97-247 by the National Association of
Broadcasters Is granted. The time for filing comments Is extended to
May 4, 1998.
It is further ordered that the time for filing reply comments Is
extended to June 2, 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, 47 CFR 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Television, Television broadcasting.
Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-5237 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-07-P
