[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19566-19567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9573]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8; 94-149 and 91-140; and 94-150, 92-51 
and 87-154; DA 95-761]


Mass Media Ownership Rules

agency: Federal Communications Commission.

action: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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summary: The Commission extends by 30 days the comment periods for 
three interrelated proceedings in order to afford commenters more time 
to collect data and perform necessary statistical analyses. The three 
proceedings involve (1) the television multiple ownership rules, (2) 
incentives to increase minority and female ownership of mass media 
facilities and (3) the Commission's rules regarding attribution of 
ownership interests. In all three proceedings, the Commission requested 
detailed analyses demonstrating the relative benefits and detriments of 
current and proposed rules.

dates: Comments due May 17, 1995; reply comments due June 19, 1995.

addresses: Federal Communication Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

for further information contact: Jane Hinckley Halprin, Mass Media 
Bureau, Policy and Rules Division, (202) 776-1653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Comments and Reply Comments

Adopted: April 7, 1995;
Released: April 7, 1995.

By the Acting Chief, Mass Media Bureau:
    1. On December 15, 1994, the Commission adopted three related 
rulemaking items. First, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making regarding ownership of television stations. 
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-
8, FCC 94-322, 60 Fed. Reg. 6490 (Feb. 2, 1995) (TV Ownership Further 
Notice). Second, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making seeking comment on initiatives designed to increase minority and 
female ownership of the mass media. Notice of Proposed Rule Making in 
MM Docket Nos. 94-149 and 91-140, FCC 94-323, 60 Fed. Reg. 6068 (Feb. 
1, 1995) (Minority/Female Ownership Notice). Third, the Commission 
adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making exploring modification of the 
Commission's rules regarding attribution of ownership interests. Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51 and 87-154, FCC 
94-324, 60 Fed. Reg. 6483 (Feb. 2, 1995) (Attribution Notice). Comments 
in all three proceedings are currently due on April 17, 1995, and reply 
comments are due on May 17, 1995.
    2. The Commission has received a separate request for extension of 
the [[Page 19567]] comment periods in each of the three proceedings, as 
well as a fourth filing encompassing all the proceedings. On March 16, 
1995, LIN Television Corporation, on behalf of several licensees, filed 
a request for a 60-day extension of time to respond to the TV Ownership 
Further Notice. On March 23, 1995, Communications Corporation of 
America, Pappas Stations Partnership and Fant Broadcasting Company of 
Nebraska, Inc., filed a joint motion for a 60-day extension of time to 
file comments in response to the Attribution Notice. A March 31, 1995, 
filing by American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) seeks a 90-day 
extension of the comment dates for the Minority/Female Ownership 
Notice. The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) on 
April 3, 1995, filed a motion for a 90-day extension in all three 
proceedings. Petitioners primarily contend that additional time is 
necessary to satisfactorily complete the economic and statistical 
analyses sought by the Commission.
    3. As set forth in Section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 
C.F.R. Sec. 1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing 
comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. We 
note that in all three proceedings, the Commission established a 
longer-than-usual initial comment period to provide interested parties 
sufficient opportunity to collect and analyze the type of data sought. 
Taking into consideration the circumstances outlined by petitioners, 
however, we believe that a 30-day extension of time to file comments 
and reply comments is warranted and should facilitate the development 
of a full and complete record on the issues raised in the three 
proceedings.
    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Request for Extension of 
Time in MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8 filed by LIN Television 
Corporation; the Motion for Extension of Time in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 
92-51 and 87-154 filed by Communications Corporation of America, Pappas 
Stations Partnership and Fant Broadcasting Company of Nebraska, Inc.; 
the Request for Extension of Time filed by American Women in Radio and 
Television in MM Docket Nos. 94-149 and 91-140; and the Motion for 
Extension of Time filed by the Minority Media and Telecommunications 
Council in all three of the above-referenced proceedings ARE GRANTED to 
the extent detailed above and are otherwise DENIED.
    6. It is further ordered that the time for filing comments in the 
three above-captioned proceedings is Extended to May 17, 1995, and the 
time for filing reply comments is Extended to June 19, 1995.
    7. 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.
Renee Licht,
Acting Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 95-9573 Filed 4-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M