[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32706-32707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16106]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 76
[CS Docket No. 96-46; FCC 96-256]
Telecommunications Act of 1996
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This Order waives the Commission's rules regarding the filing
of oppositions to petitions for reconsideration and replies. This is
necessary to provide the Commission with sufficient time to address
issues raised on reconsideration and to implement Section 653 of the
Communications Act. This Order establishes the date by which
oppositions to petitions for reconsideration must be filed and provides
that replies to oppositions will not be accepted.
DATES: This rule is effective June 25, 1996. Petitions for
reconsideration are due on or before July 5, 1996, and oppositions to
petitions for reconsideration are due on or before July 15, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Meryl S. Icove, Cable Services
Bureau, (202) 418-7200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order in CS Docket
No. 96-46, FCC 96-256, adopted June 6, 1996 and released June 7, 1996.
The complete text of this Order is available
[[Page 32707]]
for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC
Reference Center (room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC, and
also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Services, Inc. (``ITS Inc.'') at (202) 857-
3800, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20017.
Synopsis of Order
1. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 added Section 653 to the
Communications Act of 1934, establishing a new framework for entry into
the video programming marketplace, the open video system. The 1996 Act
required that the Commission, within six months after the date of
enactment of the 1996 Act, ``complete all actions necessary (including
any reconsideration) to prescribe regulations'' to govern the operation
of open video systems. The Commission issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking on March 11, 1996. 61 FR 10496 (March 14, 1996). On May 31,
1996, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order implementing
Section 653. Pursuant to the 1996 Act, the Commission must issue an
order on reconsideration by August 8, 1996.
2. The Communications Act, and the Commission's rules, require that
petitions for reconsideration of a Commission order may be filed within
thirty days from the date upon which public notice is given of the
order. Public notice of the Second Report and Order was given on June
5, 1996, when a summary of the order was published in the Federal
Register. 61 FR 28698 (June 5, 1996). Petitions for reconsideration are
due, therefore, on July 5, 1996. In order to afford the Commission
sufficient time to review the issues raised in the petitions and to
meet its statutory requirement to issue an order on reconsideration by
August 8, 1996, we believe it is in the public interest for the
Commission to waive its rules regarding the filing of oppositions to
petitions for reconsideration and replies to oppositions. We are
waiving Section 1.429(f) to provide that oppositions must be filed by
July 15, 1996. We are also waiving Section 1.429(g) and will not accept
any replies to oppositions. Finally, in order to afford the fullest
consideration possible to the issues raised on reconsideration, we
strongly encourage parties to file pleadings in advance of the
deadlines.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 76
Open video systems.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-16106 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
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