[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5380]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 73 and 76

[MM Docket No. 98-204, DA 02-400]


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 this document, the Mass Media Bureau (Bureau) partially 
grants a motion for procedural relief filed by the Minority Media and 
Telecommunications Council (MMTC) related to proposed rules on new 
broadcast and cable Equal Employment Opportunity rules and policies. 
The intended effect is to grant an extension of the comment and reply 
comments filing deadline and to clarify that the Commission will 
consider comments previously filed in this docket.

DATES: Comments are due April 15, 2002, and reply comments due May 15, 
2002.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lewis Pulley, EEO Staff, Mass Media 
Bureau. (202) 418-1450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. This is a synopsis of the Mass Media 
Bureau's Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal 
Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies, DA 02-400, released February 
22, 2002. On December 21, 2001, the Commission released a Second Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No. 98-204, 67 FR 1704 (January 14, 
2002) (Second 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 March 15, 2002, and 
April 15, 2002, respectively.
    2. On January 29, 2002, MMTC filed a Motion for Procedural Relief 
requesting: an extension of time for the filing dates for comments and 
reply comments; a draft of specified proposed rules; and a 
clarification that comments filed in the docket prior to the Second 
NPRM will be treated as part of the continuing record in this 
proceeding.
    3. MMTC requests that the Commission extend the comment and reply 
comment deadlines to April 28, 2002, and May 28, 2002, respectively. 
Because the Bureau believes that the public interest would be served by 
an extension of the comment period in this proceeding, we partially 
grant MMTC's request and extend the date for filing comments to April 
15, 2002, and extend the date for filing reply comments to May 15, 
2002.
    4. The Bureau denies MMTC's request that we issue a draft of 
specific proposed rules. In releasing the Second NPRM, the Commission 
complied with Sec. 1.413(c) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.413(c), 
which indicates that a notice of proposed rule making shall contain 
``[e]ither the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description 
of the subjects and issues involved.'' Further, MMTC's request 
conflicts with the Commission's intent to elicit comprehensive comments 
in this proceeding without limiting the scope of comments to any 
specified proposal.
    5. The Bureau grants MMTC's request that the Commission consider 
all material placed in the docket at earlier stages of this proceeding 
as part of the record in the proceedings held pursuant to the Second 
NPRM. We acknowledge MMTC's concern that parties be able to conserve 
resources by avoiding the need to refile material they previously 
submitted to the Commission. The Bureau asks that such parties identify 
the comments, sections and pages upon which they wish to rely, and that 
they summarize such material in their comments filed in response to the 
Second NPRM.
    6. Accordingly, It is ordered that the Motion for Procedural Relief 
filed by MMTC is granted in part and denied in part.
    7. It is therefore ordered that the date for filing comments and 
reply comments in this proceeding is extended to April 15, 2002, and 
May 15, 2002, respectively.
    8. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in sections 
4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 4(i) and 303(r), and Secs. 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46 of the 
Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 02-5380 Filed 3-7-02; 8:45 am]
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