[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14880-14881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6248]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Communities' Access to Local Television; Request for Information

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for public comment and notice of public discussion 
meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) seeks written comments and 
will host informal meetings with interested parties on implementing the 
provisions of Public Law 106-553, ``Launching Our Communities' Access 
to Local Television Act of 2000'' (the Act). The Act provides for a 
guaranteed loan program intended to facilitate access, on a 
technologically neutral basis, to signals of local television stations 
for households located in nonserved areas and underserved areas.
    Among other matters, the Act requires the Administrator, RUS, to 
prescribe regulations to implement the Act and to issue and otherwise 
administer loan guarantees approved by a board of Federal officials. In 
order to afford the public the maximum opportunity to contribute to the 
development of this new program and to enable the Agency to consider as 
many options as possible, RUS is requesting comments to assist in the 
drafting of the proposed rule.

DATES: Interested parties must submit written comments on or before 
April 13, 2001. RUS encourages interested parties to make arrangements 
for informal meetings with RUS staff on or before April 13, 2001. By 
further notice in the Federal Register, RUS may terminate, limit, or 
otherwise modify the process of obtaining information from interested 
parties.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant 
Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Av., SW., 
stop 1590, room 4056-S, Washington, DC 20250-1560. RUS requires, in 
hard copy, a signed original and 3 copies of all comments (7 CFR 
1700.4). Comments will be available for public inspection during normal 
business hours (7 CFR part 1).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To arrange an informal meeting, contact 
Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications 
Program, Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., stop 1590, room 4056-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-1560. Phone: 202-720-9554. Fax: 202-720-0810. E-
mail: [email protected]. All meetings will be arranged in a manner 
and at such times as are convenient to RUS. A meeting may include 
several interested parties.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 21, 2000, the President signed the ``Launching Our 
Communities' Access to Local Television Act of 2000,'' Pub. L. 06-553 
(the ``Act''). The Act provides for the establishment of the Local 
Television Loan Guarantee Board (the ``Board''), which consists of the 
Secretaries of Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce, and the Chair of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or their designees. 
The Board may approve loan guarantees up to 80% of not in excess of 
$1.25 billion of loans, to facilitate access, on a technologically 
neutral basis, to signals of local television stations for households 
located in nonserved areas and underserved areas. The Act provides 
that, among other matters, the Administrator of RUS shall prescribe 
regulations to implement the Act and shall issue and otherwise 
administer loan guarantees approved by the Board. Congress has not yet 
provided appropriations for these guarantees, but may do so in the near 
future. The Act contains several specialized technical and business 
provisions and may be found in its entirety on the RUS website 
(www.rurdev.usda.gov/rus).
    In light of its statutory role in implementing and administering 
the Act's loan guarantee program, RUS is currently analyzing the 
provisions of the Act, identifying issues potentially affecting the 
implementation of the program, and considering how the program can be 
effectively implemented. RUS is interested in receiving information 
regarding all aspects, including any financial and technological 
implications, of the program as well as analyses of any provisions of 
the Act that may present issues or practical problems in implementing 
the program. RUS invites interested parties including, but not limited 
to, financial and lending institutions, equipment providers, facility 
and other TV broadcast providers, cable and satellite providers, trade 
associations, consumer groups,

[[Page 14881]]

and individuals to comment on a series of questions and provide RUS, in 
writing and in informal meetings, any information or analyses they 
believe to be relevant to the implementation of the loan guarantee 
program.

Questions for Public Comment

    Interested parties are requested to submit comments and are 
encouraged to participate in informal meetings regarding the 
implementation of a guaranteed loan program to provide the highest 
quality access to signals of local television stations to the largest 
number of rural households located in nonserved and underserved areas 
in the most economical and expedient manner. The questions below should 
serve as a guide and are not intended to limit comments or discussions 
regarding the guaranteed loan program.
    1. Identify the technologies capable of providing high quality 
access to local television and the advantages and disadvantages of each 
(i.e. the financial, operational, and technological risks and rewards). 
For any wireless technology, what is the availability and estimated 
cost of sufficient spectrum?
    2. What technology or combination of technologies would be the most 
cost effective method of delivering local TV signals to the largest 
number of nonserved and underserved rural residences not located in the 
top 40 designated market areas (as that term is defined in section 
122(j) of title17, United States Code)?
    3. What is an acceptable minimum quality of service? If a system 
can be expanded to deliver high quality (HDTV or neat HDTV) service, 
what criteria should be used to evaluate the system?
    4. Identify the revenues and expenses associated with providing 
local broadcast signals. Discuss industry practices for setting fees 
for transmitting local signals.
    5. What additional factors should be considered to accomplish the 
goals of the Act?
    6. What, if any, effect will ``must carry'' have on the possible 
technologies being considered?

    Dated: February 7, 2001.
Blaine D. Stockton,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6248 Filed 3-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P