[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-903]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 0, 73, and 76

[MM Docket No. 98-204, DA 99-105]


Revision of Broadcast and Cable EEO Rules and Policies

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment and reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: In Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal 
Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies, DA 99-105, released January 
5, 1999, the Commission grants a motion for extension of time. The 
National Association of Broadcasters requests the extension of time in 
order that its Board of Directors have sufficient time, during their 
board meeting in mid-January, to review the issues and proposals raised 
in the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and, 
thereafter to prepare comments concerning these issues and proposals. 
The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council expressed support for 
this request in a letter to the Commission. The Commission believes 
that the public interest would be served by an extension of the comment 
period in this proceeding because it would enable commenters to file 
comprehensive comments on the important issues raised in the NPRM.

DATES: Comments due February 18, 1999; reply comments due March 23, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 
445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. On November 20, 1998, the Commission released a Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No. 98-204, 63 FR 66104, December 1, 
1998, (NPRM), requesting comment on various proposals concerning the 
Commission's broadcast and cable EEO rules and policies. Comment and 
reply comment deadlines were established for January 19, 1999, and 
February 18, 1999, respectively.
    2. On December 17, 1998, the National Association of Broadcasters 
(``NAB'') filed a ``Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply 
Comment Deadlines'' (``Motion''). Therein, the NAB requested that we 
extend the due dates for the submission of comments and reply comments 
in response to the NPRM to February 18, 1999, and March 23, 1999, 
respectively. In support of its request, the NAB asserts that the NPRM 
raises many important issues and proposals ``that need to be fully 
reviewed and discussed by the NAB Board of Directors,'' and that grant 
of the extension would allow time for the NAB Board to conduct such a 
review and discussion at their January Board Meeting (which occurs 
January 9-13, 1999) and, thereafter, ``for NAB staff to prepare 
comments consistent with the decisions made by the Board.'' \1\
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    \1\ National Association of Broadcasters Motion for Extension of 
Time of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines, filed December 17, 
1998, at 1, 2.
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    3. On January 4, 1999, the Minority Media and Telecommunications 
Council (``MMTC'') sent a letter to the Commission expressing support 
for the NAB's Motion. The MMTC stated that ``[o]wing to the extensive 
amount of detail requested of commenters [in the NPRM], it would be 
virtually impossible [for MMTC] to file comprehensive comments by the 
initial due date.'' \2\
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    \2\ Letter from David Earl Honig, Executive Director, Minority 
Media and Telecommunications Council, to Renee Licht, Deputy Chief 
of the Mass Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, dated 
January 4, 1999, at 1.
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    4. We believe the public interest would be served by an extension 
of the comment period in this proceeding because it would enable 
commenters to file comprehensive comments on the important issues 
raised in the NPRM. Accordingly, we will extend the date for filing 
comments to February 18, 1999, and extend the date for filing reply 
comments to March 23, 1999. We do not contemplate further extensions of 
the comment cycle of this proceeding.
    5. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time 
filed by the National Association of Broadcasters is granted.
    6. It is therefore ordered that the dates for filing comments and 
reply comments in this proceeding are extended to February 18, 1999, 
and March 23, 1999, respectively.
    7. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in 4(i) and 
303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) 
and 303(r), and 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 
CFR 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 0

    Organization and functions (Government agencies).

47 CFR Part 73

    Radio, Equal employment opportunity, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Television.

47 CFR Part 76

    Cable television, Equal employment opportunity, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 99-903 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M