[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53892-53893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25814]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 87-268; DA 95-2137]


Advanced Television Systems

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time for filing comments and reply 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commission, pursuant to delegated authority, grants 
motions filed by the Advanced Television Committee of the Electronics 
Industries Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, 
and jointly by the Association of America's Public Television Stations 
and the Public Broadcasting Service, and extends the time for filing 
comments in response to the Fourth Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking and Third Notice of Inquiry issued in this proceeding. The 
intended effect is to allow industry groups to form consensus opinions 
for their comments.


[[Page 53893]]

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before November 15, 1995, and reply 
comments must be filed on or before January 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Holberg, Mass Media Bureau, 
Policy and Rules Division, Legal Branch, (202) 776-1653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. On July 28, 1995, the Commission, as part of its ongoing 
Advanced Television rulemaking proceeding, adopted a Fourth Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Notice of Inquiry (``Fourth 
Further Notice``), FCC 95-315, released August 9, 1995, 60 FR 42130 
(August 15, 1995). Comments on the Fourth Further Notice were due on 
October 18, 1995, and reply comments on December 4, 1995.
    2. On September 21, 1995, the Advanced Television Committee of the 
Electronic Industries Association (``Committee'') filed a ``Motion of 
the EIA/ATV Committee for Extension of Time.'' That Motion sought an 
extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines until November 1, 
1995, and December 18, 1995, respectively. In support of that request, 
the Committee notes that, while it is sponsored by the Electronics 
Industries Association (``EIA''), its membership is not limited to EIA 
member companies. The current comment deadline, the Committee asserts, 
coincides with the EIA's annual conference, at which the Committee is 
next expected to meet. At this meeting, the Committee continues, it 
will finalize its position with respect to the issues raised in the 
Fourth Further Notice. The Committee does not believe that the brief 
extension it requests will prejudice any party; to the contrary, it 
believes that the Commission and the public will benefit ``if the 
comments (it files) in this proceeding reflect the broad intra- and 
inter industry consensus which the EIA/ATV Committee seeks to 
develop.''
    3. Subsequently, on October 4, 1995, the Information Technology 
Industry Council (``ITI'') filed a request for an extension of the 
comment deadline until November 29, 1995. In support, it asserts that 
its membership is diverse, representing the computer, information 
technology, and consumer electronics industries, and the additional 
time will be necessary to determine whether a consensus exists among 
ITI members on some or all of the many complex issues raised in the 
Fourth Further Notice.
    4. Also on October 4, 1995, the Association of America's Public 
Television Stations and the Public Broadcasting Service (``Public 
Television'') jointly filed a request for an extension of the comment 
deadline until December 13, 1995. While it welcomes the Commission's 
attention to the issue of whether to adopt special measures to 
facilitate noncommercial broadcasters' conversion to ATV, Public 
Television notes that this matter is also under consideration by 
Congress. Public Television seeks an extended comment period to allow 
its comments to reflect Congressional action, which it expects by the 
middle of November.
    5. We are mindful that Section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 
CFR Sec. 1.46, articulates a Commission policy that extensions of time 
for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings are not to be routinely 
granted. Nevertheless, in the instant case, we find that good cause 
exists for extending the comment and reply comment deadlines. Allowing 
the various affected industry groups time to develop consensus opinions 
that they would submit in comments could be most helpful to us as we 
consider and resolve the many complicated issues raised in the Fourth 
Further Notice. In addition, there are benefits to be derived from 
affording other parties an adequate opportunity for reasoned replies to 
those comments. However, we hesitate to extend the comment date until 
December 13, 1995, as requested by Public Television, because we do not 
want to unnecessarily delay the conclusion of this lengthy proceeding. 
Parties can address any Congressional action that occurs after the 
comment date we are establishing in reply comments. If necessary, 
another Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making can be issued. We do not 
anticipate that it will be necessary to allow a further extension of 
the time to file comments or replies in response to the Fourth Further 
Notice. Accordingly, we will extend both the comment and reply comment 
deadlines for approximately one month.
    6. Accordingly, it is ordered, that the Motion of the EIA/ATV 
Committee for Extension of Time relative to the Fourth Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Notice of Inquiry in MM Docket No. 87-
268, is granted. It is further ordered, that the Motion of the 
Information Technology Industry Council and the Request by the 
Association of America's Public Television Stations and the Public 
Broadcasting Service for an Extension of Time are granted to the extent 
indicated herein and, in all other respects are denied.
    7. It is further ordered, that the time for filing comments in the 
above-captioned proceeding is extended to November 15, 1995, and the 
time for filing reply comments is extended to January 12, 1996.
    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. 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. 95-25814 Filed 10-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F