[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 185 (Monday, September 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 49799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24289]


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Office
[Docket No. 96-7 CARP CD 93-94]


Ascertainment of Controversy for 1993 and 1994 Cable Royalty 
Funds

AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress directs all 
claimants to royalty fees collected for secondary transmission by cable 
systems in 1993 and 1994 to submit comments as to whether a Phase I or 
a Phase II controversy exists as to the distribution of these funds. 
The Office also requests comments as to whether it should consolidate 
the distribution of the 1993 cable royalties with the distribution of 
the 1994 cable royalties.

DATES: Comments are due November 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: If sent by mail, an original and five copies of written 
comments and a Notice of Intent to Participate should be addressed to: 
Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), P.O. Box 70977, Southwest 
Station, Washington, D.C. 20024. If hand-delivered, an original and 
five copies of written comments and a Notice of Intent to Participate 
should be brought to: Office of the Copyright General Counsel, James 
Madison Memorial Building, Room 407, First and Independence Avenue, 
S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Roberts, Senior Attorney, or 
Tanya M. Sandros, CARP Specialist, Copyright Arbitration Royalty 
Panels, P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, D.C. 20024. 
Telephone: (202) 707-8380. Telefax: (202) 707-8366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each year, cable systems submit royalties to 
the U.S. Copyright Office for a statutory license to retransmit 
broadcast signals to their subscribers. 17 U.S.C. 111. These royalties 
are, in turn, distributed to the copyright owners by means of an ad hoc 
Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) administered by the 
Librarian of Congress and the Copyright Office.
    Before commencing a distribution proceeding, the Librarian of 
Congress must first ascertain whether a controversy exists as to the 
distribution of the funds. 17 U.S.C. 803(c). Therefore, the Copyright 
Office is requesting comment on the existence of controversies as to 
the distribution of 1993 and 1994 cable royalties. Additionally, the 
Office seeks comment on whether to consolidate the proceedings for 
distributing the 1993 cable royalties with the proceeding for 
distributing the 1994 cable royalties.
    Finally, the Office requests that those claimants intending to 
participate in the 1993, 1994, or a consolidated distribution 
proceeding file a Notice of Intent to Participate, noting whether 
participation will be for 1993, 1994 or both; and the level of 
participation for each year, i.e. Phase I, Phase II, or both. 
Specifically for Phase II, each claimant must state each program 
category in which he or she has an interest which by the end of the 
comment period has not yet been satisfied by private agreement.
    Participants must advise the Office of any particular controversy, 
Phase I or Phase II, by the end of the comment period. The Office will 
not consider controversies which come to its attention after the close 
of the comment period.

    Dated: September 17, 1996.
Marybeth Peters,
Register of Copyrights.
[FR Doc. 96-24289 Filed 9-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-33-P