Meetings: Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters Advisory Committee,

[Federal Register: October 14, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 198)]

[Notices]

[Page 55091-55092]

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

[DOCID:fr14oc98-44]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters; Notice of Open Meeting

ACTION: Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters, created pursuant to Executive Order 13038.

SUMMARY: The President established the Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters (PIAC) to advise the Vice President on the public interest obligations of digital broadcasters. The Committee will study and recommend which public interest obligations should accompany broadcasters' receipt of digital television licenses. The President designated the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as secretariat for the Committee.

Authority: Executive Order 13038, signed by President Clinton on March 11, 1997.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, October 26, 1998 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, October 27, 1998 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place in Washington D.C. The location of the meeting will be announced in another Federal Register notice to be issued shortly. Updates about the location of the meeting will also be available on the Advisory Committee's homepage at www.ntia.doc.gov/ pubintadvcom/pubint.htm or you may call Karen Edwards at 202-482-8056. The meeting will also be broadcast over the Internet. The broadcast can be accessed via the Advisory Committee's homepage at www.ntia.doc.gov/ pubintadvcom/pubint.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Edwards, Designated Federal Officer and Telecommunications Policy Specialist, at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4720, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: 202-482-8056; Fax: 202-482-8058; E- mail: piac@ntia.doc.gov.

Media Inquiries: Please contact Karen Kirchgasser, the Office of Public Affairs, 202-482-7002.

[[Page 55092]]

Agenda

Monday, October 26

Opening remarks Committee deliberations Public Comment Adjourn

Tuesday, October 27

Reconvene Committee deliberations Public Comment Closing remarks

This agenda is subject to change. For an updated, more detailed agenda, please check the Advisory Committee's homepage at www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/pubint.htm.

Public Participation

The meeting will be open to the public, with limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Any member of the public requiring special services, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should contact Karen Edwards at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting at 202-482-8056 or at piac@ntia.doc.gov.

Members of the public may submit written comments concerning the Committee's affairs at any time before or after the meeting. The Secretariat's guidelines for public comment are described below and are available on the Advisory Committee homepage (www.ntia.doc.gov/ pubintadvcom/pubint.htm) or by calling 202-482-8056.

Guidelines for Public Comment

The Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters welcomes public comments. Oral Comment: In general, opportunities for oral comment will usually be limited to no more than five (5) minutes per speaker and no more than thirty (30) minutes total at each meeting. Written Comment: Written comments must be submitted to the Advisory Committee Secretariat at the address listed below. Comments can be submitted either by letter addressed to the Committee (please place ``Public Comment'' on the bottom left of the envelope and submit at least thirty-five (35) copies) or by electronic mail to piac@ntia.doc.gov (please use ``Public Comment'' as the subject line). Written comments received within three (3) workings days of a meeting and comments received shortly after a meeting will be compiled and sent as briefing material to Committee members prior to the next scheduled meeting.

Obtaining Meeting Minutes

Within thirty (30) days following the meeting, copies of the minutes of the meeting may be obtained over the Internet at www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/pubint.htm, by phone request at 202-482- 8056, by email request at piac@ntia.doc.gov or by written request to Karen Edwards; Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters; National Telecommunications and Information Administration; U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4720; 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

This notice of open meeting will be published thirteen days prior to the meeting date because of uncertainty created by the unavailability of suitable meeting space to accommodate the Committee and members of the public. This unavailability is caused by the unprecedented number of business and cultural events taking place in Washington around the meeting dates. Postponing the meeting is not possible because the next meeting date where the majority of Committee members could attend would leave the Committee insufficient time to prepare and submit its report. Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.

[FR Doc. 98-27576Filed10-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-60-P