[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 178 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47746-47747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22095]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 47747]]


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 95-1871]


Finsyn Reports

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Suspension of filing deadline.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission granted a request filed jointly by the National 
Broadcasting Company, Inc., CBS Inc. and Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. 
(``Petitioners'') that the requirement to file Network Television 
Program Ownership and Syndication Reports (``Reports'') be suspended. 
The Reports are currently due to be filed by September 1, 1995. The 
Commission noted that one purpose of the Reports is to facilitate 
preparation of comments in connection with the Commission's review of 
the financial interest and syndication (``finsyn'') rules prior to the 
scheduled expiration of those rules. As the comment cycle in that 
review has now closed, the Commission will not now require additional 
Reports to be filed. The Commission also recognized that collection and 
preparation of the information required to be included in the Reports 
represent a significant burden on Petitioners, and determined that it 
is not necessary for the Commission to review that information at this 
time. The intended effect of the Commission's action is to suspend this 
reporting requirement, while reserving the right to require that the 
Reports be filed if necessary depending upon the Commission's decision 
in its review of the finsyn rules.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Matthews, Mass Media Bureau (202) 
776-1563.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Adopted: August 28, 1995.
    Released: August 28, 1995.

    By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau:
    1. On August 21, 1995, the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., CBS 
Inc. and Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (``Petitioners'') filed a joint 
request that the requirement to file Network Television Program 
Ownership and Syndication Reports (``Reports''), pursuant to Section 
73.661 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 73.661, be suspended until 30 
days after the Commission concludes its final review of the Financial 
Interest and Syndication ``finsyn'') rules. The Reports are currently 
due to be filed by September 1, 1995. 47 CFR 73.661(f).
    2. The reporting requirements set forth in Section 73.661 were 
adopted in connection with revisions made by the Commission to the 
finsyn rules in May 93.\1\ At that time, the Commission substantially 
relaxed its finsyn rules and established a timetable for their complete 
expiration. The reporting requirements were intended to ``help the 
Commission monitor the efficacy of the rule changes adopted * * * and 
oversee the networks' conduct in the program acquisition and 
syndication markets.'' \2\ The Commission also noted ``the data 
collected pursuant to these requirements should prove useful in 
conducting the scheduled review of the new finsyn regime * * *.'' \3\

    \1\ Second Report and Order in MM Docket No. 90-162 (58 FR 
28927, May 18, 1993). The Report and Order revised existing 
reporting requirements in Section 73.661 to reflect changes being 
made to the finsyn rules.
    \2\ Id. at 28931.
    \3\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. The finsyn rules are presently scheduled to expire on November 
10, 1995. The Commission commenced its scheduled review of network 
activities in the financial interest and syndication areas on April 5, 
1995.\4\ The burden of proof was placed on those parties seeking 
continued restrictions. The comment cycle in that proceeding closed in 
June 1995.

    \4\ Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No. 95-39 (60 FR 
19562, April 19, 1995).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Petitioners contend that compilation, preparation and filing of 
the Reports require a significant amount of time and effort on their 
part. Petitioners also argue that there is no reason to require them to 
undertake this effort in view of the status of the Commission's review 
of the finsyn rules.
    5. At the present time, we believe it is not necessary for the 
Commission to review the information required to be submitted by 
Petitioners pursuant to Section 73.661. The Reports required by that 
provision must identify all network prime time entertainment programs 
and all first-run non-network programs in which the network has 
financial interests or syndication rights, 47 CFR 73.661(a), and 
provide information regarding independent syndicators who hold the 
active syndication rights for these programs. 47 CFR 73.661(c). The 
Reports must also list the sales to broadcast stations of any such 
programming the networks actively syndicate. 47 CFR 73.661(b). We 
recognize that collection and preparation of this information 
represents a significant burden on Petitioners, and do not believe it 
is necessary to require them to undertake this effort at this time. One 
purpose of the Reports is to facilitate preparation of comments in 
connection with our review of the finsyn rules. A number of Reports 
were filed, and the comment cycle has closed. Accordingly, we will not 
now require that additional Reports be filed.
    6. Accordingly, it is ordered that the request by the National 
Broadcasting Company, Inc., CBS Inc. and Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. to 
suspend the deadline to file the Reports required by Section 73.661 of 
our rules is granted to the extent detailed herein.
    7. It is further ordered That grant of this request is without 
prejudice to the Commission's right to require that such Reports be 
filed if necessary depending upon the Commission's decision in MM 
Docket No. 95-39.
    8. 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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 95-22095 Filed 9-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M