[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18061-18062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8393]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 101

[ET Docket No. 98-206, RM-9147, RM-9245, DA 01-754]


Multichannel Video and Data Distribution Service (MVDDS)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time period.

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SUMMARY: On March 23, 2001, the Public Safety and Private Wireless 
Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released an order 
extending the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reply comment 
period in ET Docket No. 98-206 from

[[Page 18062]]

March 26, 2001 to April 5, 2001. The extension was requested to allow 
parties filing reply comments in this proceeding more time to evaluate 
and respond to the voluminous comments filed by other parties.

DATES: Reply comments are due on or before April 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20054.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Burton, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, 
at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. This is a summary of the Commission's Order Extending Reply 
Comment Period (Order), adopted, March 23, 2001, and released, March 
23, 2001. The full text of the Order is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 
CY-A257, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC. The complete text may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20037.
    2. On March 21, 2001, DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite 
Corporation jointly filed a motion, pursuant to Sec. 1.46 of the 
Commission's Rules, to extend the period for filing reply comments to 
the Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 66 FR 7607, in the above-
captioned proceeding from March 26, 2001 to April 26, 2001. In 
response, Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Broadwave USA, Inc. filed an 
Opposition to Motion for Extension of Time on March 23, 2001. For the 
reasons discussed below, we extend the reply comment period from March 
26, 2001 to Thursday, April 5, 2001.
    3. The Motion requests an extension of time to address the 
``voluminous comments'' filed by a number of parties. It argues that no 
prejudice will result from the grant of the extension because there are 
other matters that need to be performed by third parties before the 
Commission can resolve the outstanding issues in this proceeding. The 
Opposition, on the other hand, contends that it is in the public 
interest to resolve this matter on a more expedited basis and that a 
thirty-day extension is simply not appropriate under such 
circumstances.
    4. The Commission's general policy is that extensions of time are 
not routinely granted. Moreover, the Commission specifically disfavors 
requests for extensions of time filed on such short notice. 
Nevertheless, we still consider and, in certain instances, grant 
limited requests for extensions of time where we find that the public 
interest would be best served by a more complete discussion of the 
matters pending before the Commission. We believe that it is in the 
public interest to decide this matter with the most complete and well-
developed record possible. After weighing the parties' arguments, we 
find that a moderate extension of time is appropriate under the 
circumstances presented. We believe that a moderate extension of time 
appropriately balances the interests of commenting parties without 
unreasonably delaying the resolution of the proceeding. Therefore, we 
will grant a ten-day extension of time for the filing of reply 
comments. As a result, reply comments must be filed on or before April 
5, 2001.
    5. It is hereby ordered that pursuant to Section 1.46 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, the request of DIRECTV, Inc. and 
EchoStar Satellite Corporation to extend the deadline for filing reply 
comments in this proceeding, filed March 21, 2001, is granted in part 
and denied in part to the extent indicated.
    6. This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to 
Secs. 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 0.131, 0.331.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 101

    Communications equipment, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kathleen O'Brien Ham,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 01-8393 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U