[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18655-18656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9819]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Office
[Docket No. 97-1]


Revision of the Cable and Satellite Carrier Compulsory Licenses; 
Public Meetings

AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Change in schedule for written testimony.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Copyright Office is examining the copyright licensing of 
broadcast retransmissions for the purpose of recommending legislative 
changes to Congress. In response to a request for an extension of time 
in filing comments for this study, the Copyright Office is announcing 
changes in the schedule for filing written testimony, reply comments, 
and notices of intention to testify. The dates of the public meetings 
remain unchanged.

DATES: Formal written testimony and questions for witnesses shall be 
filed no later than April 28, 1997, and reply comments shall be filed 
no later than June 16, 1997. Notices of intention to testify shall be 
submitted to the Office no later than April 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: If delivered by hand, fifteen copies of written statements, 
questions, and reply comments should be brought to: Office of the 
General Counsel, Copyright Office, James Madison Memorial Building, 
Room LM-403, First and Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 
20540. If sent by mail, fifteen copies of written statements, 
questions, and reply comments should be sent addressed to Nanette 
Petruzzelli, Acting General Counsel, Copyright GC/I&R, P.O. Box 70400, 
Southwest Station, Washington, D.C. 20024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nanette Petruzzelli, Acting General 
Counsel, or William Roberts, Senior Attorney for Compulsory Licenses. 
Telephone (202) 707-8380. Telefax: (202) 707-8366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 6, 1997, Senator Orrin Hatch, 
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, sent 
a letter to the Register of Copyrights requesting the Copyright Office 
to conduct a global review of the copyright licensing regimes governing 
the retransmission of over-the-air broadcast signals. The Copyright 
Office is scheduled to report its findings to Congress on August 1, 
1997.
    On March 20, 1997, the Copyright Office announced a schedule for 
open public meetings to gather testimony from parties with an interest 
in copyright licensing of broadcast signal retransmissions. 62 FR 13396 
(March 20, 1997). The Office requested parties wishing to testify to 
notify the Office by April 15, 1997, and to submit their formal written 
testimony and questions for witnesses no later than April 18, 1997. 
Interested parties were asked to submit reply comments by June 3, 1997. 
The public meetings are to take place the week of May 6, 1997.
    On April 7, 1997, the Office received a joint motion requesting an 
extension of time for the filing of written testimony and questions for 
witnesses. Joining the motion are the National Association of 
Broadcasters, Satellite Broadcasting Communications Association, Joint 
Sports Claimants, Association of Local Television Stations, Inc., the 
Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., and the Public 
Broadcasting Service. These parties request a sixty day extension, 
noting that the questions presented by the Office in the March 20 
Federal Register notice raise a number of issues of broad importance 
which require further deliberation. In particular, the parties state 
that additional time is required to evaluate the impact of the Supreme 
Court's decision in Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. FCC, 1997 U.S. 
Lexis 2078 (March 31, 1997). Additionally, the parties submit that the 
current schedule may adversely impact the ongoing negotiations between 
broadcasters and satellite carriers to settle ``white area'' 
restriction problems under the Satellite Home Viewer Act because the 
parties would be required to submit written testimony prior to 
finalizing any agreements. In sum, the parties advise that the quality 
of the testimony and the likelihood of consensus solutions to issues 
raised in the March 20 notice will be greatly improved, if the 60 day 
extension is granted.
    Due to scheduling difficulties and the firmness of the August 1, 
1997 deadline, the Office is unable to grant a 60 day extension at this 
time. However, the Office is granting a 10 day extension for the filing 
of comments and a 13 day extension for the filing of reply comments. 
Formal written testimony and written questions for witnesses shall be 
due no later than the close of

[[Page 18656]]

business on April 28, 1997, and reply comments should be due no later 
than the close of business on June 16, 1997. In addition, parties may 
submit their notices of intention to testify no later than April 22, 
1997. Parties who have already submitted such notification need not do 
so again. All other deadlines and filing requirements announced in the 
March 20 Federal Register notice shall remain in force.

    Dated: April 11, 1997.
Nanette Petruzzelli,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 97-9819 Filed 4-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-33-P