[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
