[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]
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[[Page 47747]]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[DA 95-1871]
Finsyn Reports
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Suspension of filing deadline.
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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.
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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).
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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]
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