[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 164 (Thursday, August 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20856]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 25, 1994]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 76
[CS Docket No. 94-95; DA 94-895]
Cable Television Service; List of Major Television Markets
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Commission, through this action, invites comments on its
proposal to amend its rules regarding the listing of major television
markets, to change the designation of the Tampa-St.Petersburg-
Clearwater television market to include the community of Lakeland,
Florida. This action is taken at the request of Public Interest
Corporation, licensee of television station WTMV(TV), channel 32,
Lakeland, Florida and it taken to test the proposal for market
hyphenation through the record established based on comments filed by
interested parties.
DATES: Comments are due on or before September 14, 1994 and reply
comments are due on or before October 14, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William H. Johnson, Cable Services
Bureau (202) 418-0856
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Docket 94-95, adopted August 12, 1994
and released August 15, 1994. The full text of this decision is
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in
the FCC Reference Center (room 239), 1919 M Street, NW, Washington,
D.C. 20554, and may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Service, (202) 857-3800, 1919 M Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20554.
Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. The Commission, in response to a Petition for Rule Making filed
by the petitioner, proposed to amend Sec. 76.51 of the Rules to add the
community of Lakeland to the Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
television market.
2. In evaluating past requests for hyphenation of a market, the
Commission has considered the following factors as relevant to its
examination: (1) the distance between the existing designated
communities and the community proposed to be added to the designation;
(2) whether cable carriage, if afforded to the subject station, would
extend to areas beyond its Grade B signal coverage area; (3) the
presence of a clear showing of a particularized need by the station
requesting the change of market designation; and (4) an indication of
benefit to the public from the proposed change. Each of these factors
helps the Commission to evaluate individual market conditions
consistent ``with the underlying competitive purpose of the market
hyphenation rule to delineate areas where stations can and do, both
actually and logically, compete.''
3. Based on the facts presented, the Commission believes that a
sufficient case for redesignation of the subject market has been set
forth so that this proposal should be tested through the rule making
process, including the comments of interested parties. It appears from
the information before us that the television stations licensed to
Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Lakeland do compete for
audiences and advertisers throughout much of the proposed combined
market area, and that sufficient evidence has been presented tending to
demonstrate commonality between the proposed communities to be added to
the market designation and the market as a whole. Moreover, the
petitioners' proposal appears to be consistent with the Commission's
policies regarding redesignation of a hyphenated television market.
Accordingly, comment is requested on the proposed addition of Lakeland
to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida television market.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
4. The Commission certifies that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980 does not apply to this rulemaking proceeding because if the
proposed rule amendment is promulgated, there will not be a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities, as
defined by Sec. 601 (3) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A few cable
television system operators will be affected by the proposed rule
amendment. The Secretary shall send a copy of this Notice of Proposed
Rule Making, including the certification, to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in accordance with
paragraph 603(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pub. L. No. 96-354,
94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq. (1981).
Ex Parte
5. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rule making
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, provided they are
disclosed as provided in the Commission's Rules. See generally 47 CFR
Secs. 1.1202, 1.1203 and 1.1206(a).
Comment Dates
6. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Secs. 1.415 and
1.419 of the Commission's Rules, interested parties may file comments
on or before September 14, 1994, and reply comments on or before
October 14, 1994. All relevant and timely comments will be considered
before final action is taken in this proceeding. To file formally in
this proceeding, participants must file an original and four copies of
all comments, reply comments, and supporting comments. If participants
want each Commissioner to receive a personal copy of their comments, an
original plus nine copies must be filed. Comments and reply comments
should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments and reply comments will be
available for public inspection during regular business hours in the
FCC Reference Center (Room 239) of the Federal Communications
Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20554.
7. Accordingly, this action is taken by the Chief, Cable Services
Bureau, pursuant to authority delegated by Sec. 0.321 of the
Commission's Rules.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 76
Cable television.
Federal Communications Commission.
William H. Johnson,
Acting Chief, Cable Services Bureau.
[FR Doc. 94-20856 Filed 8-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F
