[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 204 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54600-54601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26902]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 73

[MM Docket No. 96-16, DA 96-1594]


Revision of Broadcast EEO Policies

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: In Streamlining Broadcast EEO Rules and Policies, DA 96-1594, 
released September 20, 1996, the Commission accepts late-filed comments 
and, on its own motion, extends the date for filing reply comments 
concerning the Commission's Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 
MM Docket No. 96-16. A group of organizations (Petitioners) requests 
the acceptance of their late-filed comments, citing various reasons for 
the delay, including loss of staff and the failure of three hard 
drives. Because of these circumstances and in the interest of compiling 
a full record in this rule making, the Commission will accept these 
comments. In addition, due to the lateness of Petitioners' comments and 
their voluminous nature, the Commission believes that the public 
interest favors an extension of time for filing reply comments.

DATES: Reply comments due October 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hope G. Cooper, Mass Media Bureau, 
Enforcement Division. (202) 418-1450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. On February 8, 1996, the Commission 
adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 11 FCC Rcd 5154 
(1996), 61 FR 9964 (March 12, 1996), which vacated the Commission's EEO 
Forfeiture Policy Statement and requested comment on proposals for 
amending the Commission's EEO Rule and policies. Comment and Reply 
Comment dates were established for April 30, 1996, and May 30, 1996, 
respectively.
    2. On April 12, 1996, twenty organizations, including the Minority 
Media and Telecommunications Council (hereinafter ``Petitioners''), 
filed a Motion for Extension of Time to file comments in response to 
the above-captioned proceeding.1 On April 26, 1996, the Commission 
granted the Petitioners' request for extension of time.2 The date 
for filing comments was extended to July 1, 1996, and the date

[[Page 54601]]

for filing reply comments was extended to July 31, 1996.
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    \1\ Minority Media and Telecommunications Council et al., Motion 
For Extension of Time, MM Docket No. 96-16, filed April 12, 1996. 
For the names of the twenty organizations, see National Council of 
Churches et al., Petition For Reconsideration and Clarification, MM 
Docket No. 96-16, filed April 11, 1996, at 1.
    \2\ FCC 96-198 (released: April 26, 1996), 61 FR 25183 (May 20, 
1996).
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    3. Petitioners filed two additional extensions of time 3 which 
the Commission granted.4 In response to the last request, the 
Commission extended the date for filing comments to August 26, 1996, 
and the date for filing reply comments to September 25, 1996.
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    \3\ Minority Media and Telecommunications Council et al., Motion 
For Further Extension of Time, MM Docket No. 96-16, filed June 20, 
1996. Minority Media and Telecommunications Council et al., Motion 
For Further Extension of Time, and For Waiver of Filing Deadline, MM 
Docket No. 96-16, filed August 5, 1996.
    \4\ 11 FCC Rcd 7624 (1996), 61 FR 37241 (July 17, 1996); DA 96-
1279 (released: August 9, 1996), 61 FR 46755 (September 5, 1996).
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    4. On August 26, 1996, Petitioners filed Volume III of their 
comments stating that Volumes I and II were still being edited but 
would be filed shortly.5 They stated that they ``experienced 
additional delay attendant to [their] analysis of the huge volume of 
data in the two research studies'' contained in Volume III. On 
September 17, 1996, Petitioners filed Volumes I and II of their 
comments. Petitioners cite various difficulties that delayed the 
completion of their comments including loss of staff and the failure of 
three hard drives. They request acceptance of their late-filed 
comments.
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    \5\ On August 12, 1996, Petitioners filed a letter indicating 
that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 
had joined Petitioners in their comments.
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    5. In emergency situations, the Commission will consider motions 
for acceptance of comments filed after the filing date. See Section 
1.46(b) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Section 1.46(b). Because of 
the circumstances cited above and in the interest of compiling a full 
record in this rule making, we will accept Petitioners' late-filed 
comments. However, due to the lateness of Petitioners' comments and 
their voluminous nature, we believe that the public interest favors an 
extension of the time for filing reply comments. Consequently, on our 
own motion, we will extend the deadline for filing reply comments to 
October 25, 1996.
    6. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Commission, on its own 
motion, extends the time for filing reply comments.
    7. It is further ordered that reply comments will be accepted 
through October 25, 1996.
    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. 
Sections 4(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-26902 Filed 10-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P