[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 42996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16365]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MB Docket No. 04-228; DA 04-2085]


Elimination of Market Entry Barriers for Small Telecommunications 
Businesses and Allocations of Spectrum-Based Services for Small 
Businesses and Businesses Owned by Women and Minorities

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice, extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission extends the period for 
comment and reply comment in this proceeding that seeks comment on 
constitutionally permissible ways for the Commission to further its 
legislative mandate to identify and eliminate market entry barriers for 
small telecommunications businesses and to further opportunities in the 
allocation of spectrum-based services for small businesses and 
businesses owned by women and minorities. The deadline to file comments 
is extended from July 22, 2004, to September 10, 2004, and the deadline 
to file reply comments is extended from August 6, 2004, to October 8, 
2004. The action is taken to respond to a Motion for Extension of Time.

DATES: Comments are due on or before September 10, 2004, and reply 
comments are due on or before October 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Salovaara, Industry Analysis 
Division, Media Bureau, (202) 418-2330 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's 
Public Notice, DA-04-2085, in MB Docket No. 04-228, released on July 
12, 2004. The full text of this Public Notice is available for 
inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Portals II, 
Washington, DC 20554, and may also be purchased from the Commission's 
copy contractor, Best Company and Printing, Inc., Room CY-B402, 
telephone (800) 378-3160, http://www.bcpiweb.com. To request materials 
in accessible formats for people with disabilities (electronic files, 
large print, audio format and Braille), send an e-mail to 
[email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
202-418-0531 (voice), 418-7365 (TTY).
    The Commission extends the comment period established in the 
previous Public Notice in this proceeding (69 FR 34672, June 22, 2004) 
from July 22, 2004, to September 10, 2004, and the reply comment 
deadline from August 6, 2004, to October 8, 2004. This action responds 
to a Motion for Extension of Time, filed July 2, 2004, by the Minority 
Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC). MMTC explains that it 
expects to engage a consultant to help in preparing its comments, and 
seeks an extension of the comment and reply comment periods to allow 
sufficient time for its expert to analyze whether the Commission's 
studies and other literature in the field provide a basis for meeting 
the constitutional requirements applicable to race-conscious 
initiatives.
    MMTC also states that the extension is needed to circulate the 
expert's conclusions once this analysis is completed and for MMTC to 
draft its comments. Given the complexity of the legal issues involved, 
the heightened constitutional standards that apply, and the 
Commission's consequent interest in obtaining a rigorous and 
comprehensive analysis, we believe that granting MMTC's extension 
request will serve the public interest.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas L. Horan,
Legal Advisor, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 04-16365 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P