[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7362-7363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3402]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 000208032-0032-01]


Public Meeting, Request for Comment on Rural and Small Market 
Access to Local Television Broadcast Signals

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; Request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and 
Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA), Gregory L. Rohde, will host a roundtable 
discussion open to the public that will explore rural and small market 
access to local television broadcast signals (Rural TV Roundtable). 
NTIA also requests public comment on the ways to ensure that television 
viewers in rural regions, small markets, and other unserved areas of 
the United States can receive greater access to local programming 
through new technologies. New technological innovations are providing 
unprecedented opportunities to expand the reach of broadcast 
programming to America's rural regions, small markets, and other 
unserved areas. While some viewers in rural and small markets and other 
unserved areas have been able to receive broadcast network programming 
via cable and satellite, these programming signals often originate 
hundreds or even thousands of miles away, and do not provide these 
communities with local programming. This notice, through a series of 
questions, requests public comment on issues relating to the means by 
which access to local television can be made available to television 
viewers in small markets, rural communities and other unserved areas.

DATES: The Rural TV Roundtable will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on 
March 2, 2000. Written comments must be filed on or before April 14, 
2000. Written reply comments must be filed on or before May 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The Rural TV Roundtable will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on 
March 2, 2000, at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4830, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. The meeting will be open 
to the public. For current information on the roundtable, please see 
NTIA's website at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/ruraltvroundtable/.

[[Page 7363]]

    The Department invites the public to submit written comments in 
paper or electronic form. Comments may be mailed to Robert Krinsky, 
Office of Policy Analysis and Development, National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Room 4725, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. In the 
alternative, comments may be submitted in electronic form to the 
following electronic mail address: [email protected]>.

Submission of Documents

Written Comments

    Paper submissions should include three paper copies and a version 
on diskette in PDF, ASCII, Word Perfect (please specify version) or 
Microsoft Word (please specific version) format. Diskettes should be 
labeled with the name of the party, and the name and version of the 
word processing program used to create the document. Comments and reply 
comments submitted via email to [email protected] should also be 
submitted in the formats specified above.
    All comments and reply comments should be captioned ``Rural and 
Small Market Access to Local Television Broadcast Signals--Comment [or 
Reply Comment], Docket No. 000208032-0032-01.'' Comments and reply 
comments should be numbered and organized in response to the questions 
set forth in this Notice.
    Comments and reply comments received will be posted on the NTIA web 
site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Krinsky, Office of Policy 
Analysis and Development, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration; telephone (202) 482-1880; or electronic mail 
[email protected]>.
    Media enquiries should be directed to the Office of Public Affairs, 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, at (202) 
482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Changes in the copyright law brought about by the enactment of the 
Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (SHVIA) have provided an 
opportunity for satellite services to deliver local broadcast signals 
into local markets. Early reports, however, indicate that so-called 
``local-into-local'' service will be offered only in relatively large 
markets and not available to viewers in rural and small communities. 
The purpose of this NTIA request for public comment is to explore 
whether there are other ways to ensure that viewers in these 
underserved communities can receive the benefit of access to local 
programming through new technologies.
    Last year Congress examined one proposal, a new loan guarantee 
program, as a means of promoting the delivery of local broadcast 
signals in rural and small markets. As a complement to Congressional 
efforts, NTIA has undertaken this request for public comment on the 
viability of any means of providing local broadcast television service 
to rural regions, small markets, and other unserved areas, including 
any legal, economic, or technological impediments. NTIA will also 
conduct a public meeting that will feature a roundtable discussion of 
these issues.

Questions for Public Comment

    Interested parties are requested to submit written comments on any 
issue of fact, law, or policy that may inform the U.S. Department of 
Commerce on rural and small market access to local television broadcast 
signals. Specifically, comment is requested on the questions set forth 
below. These questions are designed to assist the public, however, and 
should not be construed as a limitation on the issues on which public 
comment may be submitted. Comments should cite the number of the 
question(s) addressed. Please provide copies of any studies, research, 
or other empirical data referenced in the comments.
    1. Is it technologically feasible today to deliver local-into-local 
broadcast service to rural regions, small markets, and other unserved 
areas? This might include comments on satellite, enhancements to 
terrestrial digital television, wireless cable, video streaming, 
wireless packet data, and other technological means.
    2. What are the trade-offs between the technology options?
    3. Under what circumstances is the use of one technology more 
appropriate than another?
    4. Should multiple technologies be used to accomplish the delivery 
of local television service to rural regions, small markets, and other 
unserved areas?
    5. What are the economic impediments, if any, to the use of any of 
the technologies that might be used to facilitate local television 
service to rural regions, small markets, and other unserved areas?
    6. What are the legal impediments, if any, to the use of any of the 
technologies that might be used to facilitate local television service 
to rural regions, small markets, and other unserved areas?
    7. What legal measures, if any, should be taken to foster the 
delivery of local television service to rural regions, small markets, 
and other unserved areas?
    8. What economic and technological policy measures, if any, should 
be taken to foster the delivery of local television service to rural 
regions, small markets, and other unserved areas?
    Public Participation: The Rural TV Roundtable is open to the public 
on a first-come, first-served basis and physically accessible to people 
with disabilities. To facilitate entry into the Department of Commerce 
building, please have a photo identification available and/or a U.S. 
Government building pass if applicable. Any member of the public 
wishing to attend and requiring special services, such as a sign 
language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should contact Robert 
Krinsky, Office of Policy Analysis and Development, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, at least five (5) working days prior to the Rural TV 
Roundtable, at either telephone number (202) 482-1880 or electronic 
mail at [email protected]>.

Gregory L. Rohde,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 00-3402 Filed 2-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P