Practice and procedure: New noncommercial educational broadcast facilities applicants; comparative standards reexamination,

[Federal Register: December 14, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 239)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 68729]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr14de98-34]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Chapters 73 and 74

[MM Docket No. 95-31; DA: 98-2489]

Broadcast Services; Radio Stations, Television Stations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the joint request of National Public Radio, the Association of America's Public Television Stations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Chief, Mass Media Bureau, acting under delegated authority, extends the comment and reply comment deadlines in the subject proceeding for forty-five days.

DATES: Comments are now due by January 28, 1999, and reply comments are due by March 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Bleiweiss, Mass Media Bureau, Audio Services Division (202) 418-2780.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's Order in MM Docket No. 95-31, DA 98-2489, adopted and released December 3, 1998. The complete text of this Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857-3800, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. The Order is also available on the Internet at the Commission's web site: http://www.fcc.gov.:

1. On October 21, 1998, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making (``Notice'') in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register at 63 FR 58358 ( October 30, 1998). The Notice solicited comment on proposed changes to the process used to select among competing applicants for noncommercial educational broadcast stations, on reserved and non-reserved channels. The deadlines for filing comments and reply comments were set at December 14, 1998 and January 4, 1999, respectively.

2. On November 30, 1998, National Public Radio (NPR), the Association of America's Public Television Stations (APTS) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) fileda ``Joint Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines'' seeking forty-five-day extensions of the comment and reply comment deadlines. They stated that they are in the process of evaluating the likely impact of the Commission's proposals on public broadcasters and of consulting with hundreds of potentially affected public television and public radio stations, but that they require additional time to complete a thorough analysis and to fully address complex issues. They state that 45 additional days are needed because of the upcoming holiday season when many public broadcasters, particularly university- owned stations, operate with minimal staffing.

3. We will grant the requested extension. Although the Commission has a policy of not routinely granting extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings, this proceeding raises a number of complex issues concerning an entirely new process that will affect large numbers of applicants. A well-documented record will best enable an informed decision as to which options for selecting public broadcasters are most in the public interest. Additionally: (1) NPR, APTS, and CPB, through their substantial interaction with noncommercial educational broadcasters, are in a position to compile the views of many of the parties that will most directly be affected by any actions we take in this proceeding; (2) they have shown good cause why a forty- five-day extension will enable them to provide more well-informed comments; and (3) no party will be prejudiced by this extension. Rather, all may make good use of this added time to prepare and present well-supported comments on these important issues.

4. This action is taken pursuant to the authority found in Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r), and sections 204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the Commission's Rules.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 73 and 74

Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission. Roy J. Stewart, Chief, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98-33066Filed12-11-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P