[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34212-34213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16072]



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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 95-1373]


Mass Media Ownership Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Commission granted an extension of time to file reply 
comments in the above three proceedings in response to a request filed 
by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council to extend the 
filing dates for two of the three proceedings. The three related 
rulemaking items involve ownership of television stations, minority and 
female ownership of mass media facilities, and attribution of ownership 
interests.
    The Commission had already granted an extension of the original 
deadline for filing comments in the three proceedings from April 17, 
1995, to May 17, 1995, and had extended the original deadline for 
filing reply comments from May 17, 1995, to June 19, 1995. 60 Fed. Reg. 
19566 (April 19, 1995). Petitioners requested an additional two-week 
extension of time to file reply comments in the proceedings dealing 
with minority and female ownership and attribution. The Commission 
determined that a three-week extension was warranted for all three 
proceedings because of the possible relevance of the issues addressed 
by the Supreme Court in Adarand Construction v. Pena, No. 93-1841 (June 
12, 1995).

DATES: Reply comments are now due on July 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jane Hinckley Halprin or Mania Baghdadi at (202) 776-1653, or Robert 
Kieschnick at (202) 739-0764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Reply Comments

    Adopted: June 16, 1995; Released: June 16, 1995
    By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau:
    1. On December 15, 1994, the Commission adopted three related 
rulemaking items regarding ownership of television stations, minority 
and female ownership of the mass media, and attribution of ownership 
interests. Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-
221 and 87-8, 10 FCC Rcd 3524 (1995) 60 FR 6490, February 2, 1995 (TV 
Ownership Further Notice); Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket 
Nos. 94-149 and 91-140, 10 FCC Rcd 2788 (1995) 60 FR 6068, February 1, 
1995 (Minority/Female Ownership Notice); Notice of Proposed Rule Making 
in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51, and 87-154, 10 FCC Rcd 3606 (1995) 60 
FR 6483, February 2, 1995 (Attribution Notice). Comments in all three 
proceedings were initially due on April 17, 1995, and reply comments 
were initially due on May 17, 1995. By Order released April 7, 1995 60 
FR 19566, April 19, 1995, the time for filing comments in the three 
proceedings was extended to May 17, 1995, and the time for filing reply 
comments was extended to June 19, 1995. In addition, in an Order 
released on June 15, 1995, we extended the time for filing reply 
comments in response to the TV Ownership Further Notice to June 30, 
1995.
    2. On June 16, 1995, the Minority Media and Telecommunications 
Council (Petitioner) filed a request for an additional two-week 
extension of time to file reply comments in response to the Attribution 
Notice and the Minority/Female Ownership Notice. Petitioner contends 
additional time is needed to analyze the effect of the Commission's 
minority ownership policies of the Supreme Court's recent decision in 
Adarand Construction v. Pena, No. 93-1841 (June 12, 1995).
    3. As set forth in Section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
Sec. 1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing comments 
in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. The initial 
comment period in all three proceedings was longer than usual, and one 
30-day extension of time for all three proceedings has already been 
granted. However, because of the possible relevance of the issues 
addressed in Adarand to the highly 

[[Page 34213]]
complex rulemakings that are the subject of the instant request, we 
believe a further extension of the reply comment deadline for the 
Minority/Female Ownership Notice and the Attribution Notice is 
warranted. Because there may be benefit to a concurrent schedule for 
the three proceedings, we also, on our own motion, extend the reply 
comment deadline for the TV Ownership Further Notice.
    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time 
filed in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51, 87-154, 94-149 and 91-140 by the 
Minority Media and Telecommunications Council IS granted to the extent 
detailed above.
    5. It is further ordered that the time for filing reply comments in 
the three above-captioned proceedings is extended to July 10, 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, 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 CFR Secs. 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 95-16072 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M