[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 24655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11720]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 97-857]


Cable Services Action; Commission Announces En Banc Hearing on 
Industry Proposal for Rating Video Programming and on ``V-Chip'' 
Technology

April 23, 1997.
    On June 4, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission will hold an 
en banc hearing on: (1) The joint proposal submitted to the Commission 
on January 17, 1997 by the National Association of Broadcasters, the 
National Cable Television Association and the Motion Picture 
Association of America describing a voluntary system for rating video 
programming (the ``industry proposal''); and (2) video programming 
blocking technology (the so-called ``V-chip'' technology). The en banc 
hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission meeting room, Room 
856, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554. The Commission will 
announce participants and a hearing format in the near future.
    On February 7, 1997, the Commission issued a public notice seeking 
comment on the industry proposal. See public notice, Commission Seeks 
Comment on Industry Proposal for Rating Video Programming, CS Docket 
No. 97-55, FCC 97-34, Report No. CS 97-6 (February 7, 1997). Copies of 
the public notice, which attaches a copy of the industry proposal as an 
Appendix, may be obtained from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 
Room 239, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC, from the Commission's 
Internet site (http://www.fcc.gov/vchip), or by calling ITS, the 
Commission's transcription service, at (202) 857-3800.
    In order to provide interested parties an opportunity to respond to 
matters raised in the en banc hearing, the due date for surreply 
comments in CS Docket No. 97-55 is extended from May 23, 1997 to June 
16, 1997.
    Media contact: Morgan Broman (202) 418-2358.
    TV Ratings contact: Meryl S. Icove or Rick Chessen (202) 418-7096.
    V-chip Technology contact: Rick Engelman (202) 418-2157.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-11720 Filed 5-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P