[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 11, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31503]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96-197; DA 96-2036]


Newspaper/Radio Cross-Ownership Waiver Policy

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; extension of comment and reply comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the deadline for filing comments and reply 
comments to the Notice of Inquiry in the above-cited docket. It is 
taken in response to requests to extend the comment and reply comment 
period made by the law firm of Haley Bader & Potts. The intended effect 
of this action is to allow the parties to the proceeding to have 
additional time in which to file comments and reply comments.

DATES: Comments are due on or before February 7, 1997, and reply 
comments are due on or before March 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Holberg (202-418-2130) or 
Charles Logan (202-418-2130), Mass Media Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Order granting an 
extension of time for filing comments and reply comments in MM Docket 
No. 96-197, DA 96-2036, adopted December 5, 1996, and released December 
5, 1996. The complete text of this Order is available for inspection 
and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center 
(Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and also may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Synopsis of Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Comments

    1. On October 1, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry 
(``NOI'') in this proceeding, 61 FR 53694, October 15, 1996, regarding 
its policy for waiving the newspaper/radio cross ownership restriction 
set forth in Section 73.3555(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 
73.3555(d). The NOI invited comment on a variety of questions related 
to possible revisions to the Commission's current waiver policy. 
Comments were due to be filed by December 9, 1996, and reply comments 
by January 8, 1997.
    2. On November 7, 1996, the Commission released three notices of 
proposed rule making concerning (1) the broadcast attribution rules, 
which define what constitutes a ``cognizable interest'' in applying the 
broadcast multiple ownership rules, Further Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making in MM Docket Nos. 94-150/92-51/87-154, FCC 96-436 (``FNPRM''); 
(2) the local television ownership rules, including the television 
duopoly rule and the radio-television cross-ownership rule, Second 
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-221/87-8, 
FCC 96-438 (``FNPRM''); and (3) the national television ownership rule, 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 96-222/91-221/87-8, 
FCC 96-437. The comment date established for each of these three 
rulemaking proceedings is February 7, 1997, and the due date for reply 
comments is March 7, 1997.
    3. On November 27, 1996, the law firm of Haley Bader & Potts filed 
a Request For Extension Of Comment Date (``Request'') to extend the 
comment and reply comment deadlines in connection with the NOI in MM 
Docket No. 96-197 to February 7, 1997 and March 7, 1997, respectively. 
In support of its Request, Haley Bader & Potts asserts that the above-
referenced rule makings raise issues that are strongly related to those 
raised in the NOI. We are mindful that Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's 
Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, articulates a Commission policy that extensions of 
time for filing comments in rule making proceedings are not to be 
routinely granted. Nevertheless, we find that good cause exists for 
granting the requested extension of the comment and reply comment 
deadlines. As Haley, Bader & Potts points out, the issues raised by the 
FNPRM are relevant to the newspaper/radio cross-ownership rule in that 
the attribution rules define what constitutes a cognizable ownership 
interest in a radio station or daily newspaper. In addition, many of 
the same competition and diversity concerns that underlie the 
newspaper/radio cross-ownership restriction are also raised in our 
examination of the television duopoly rule and radio-television cross-
ownership rule. Given the similarity of the issues raised in the NOI 
and the three rulemaking proceedings, we believe it is appropriate that 
they share the same comment and reply comment deadlines. This will 
enable interested parties to submit more complete comments regarding 
the interrelated issues raised by these separate proceedings. This, in 
turn, will result in a more comprehensive record for the Commission to 
consider in assessing whether to revise its newspaper/radio cross-
ownership waiver policy as well as its broadcast attribution and 
television ownership rules.
    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the request filed by Haley Bader 
& Potts for an extension of time in which to file comments and reply 
comments in response to the Notice of Inquiry in MM Docket 96-197 is 
granted.
    5. It is further ordered, that the time for filing comments in the 
above-captioned proceeding is extended to February 7, 1997, and the 
time for filing reply comments is extended to March 7, 1997.
    6. 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. 96-31503 Filed 12-9-96; 10:54 am]
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