[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29687-29688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14377]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[MM Docket No. 97-247; DA 98-962]
Fees for Ancillary or Supplementary Use of Digital Television
Spectrum
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.
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SUMMARY: On December 18, 1997, the Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rule Making in this proceeding, FCC 97-414, regarding the
assessment of fees for the use of digital television bitstream for the
provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Comments in this
proceeding were initially due March 3, 1998, and reply comments were
due April 2, 1998. By Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing
Comments of February 23, 1998 (``February 23 Order''), the Mass Media
Bureau extended the deadline for filing comments to May 4, 1998 and for
filing reply comments to June 2, 1998. On May 13, 1998, The Office of
Communication of the United Church of Christ, the Benton Foundation,
the Center for Media Education, the Civil Rights Forum, and the Media
Access Project (``Petitioners'') submitted a Request for Extension of
Time to file reply comments. The Commission hereby grants petitioners
request and extends the reply comment deadline to August 3, 1998.
DATES: Reply Comments are due on or before August 3, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St., NW, room 222,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Duvall, Chief Economist, Mass
Media Bureau (202) 418-2600, Susanna Zwerling, Policy and Rules
Division, Mass Media Bureau (202) 418-2140, or Jonathan Levy, Office of
Plans and Policy (202) 418-2030.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Mass Media Bureau's
Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Reply Comments, DA 98-962
adopted May 20, 1998 and released May 20, 1998. The full text of this
Mass Media Bureau Order is available for inspection and copying during
normal business hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (Room 239), 1919 M
Street NW, Washington, DC. The complete text of this Order may also be
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Services (202) 857-3800 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 140,
Washington, DC 20037.
Synopsis of Order
On December 18, 1997, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making 63 FR 460, January 6, 1998, in this proceeding, regarding
the assessment of fees for the use of digital television bitstream for
the provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Comments in this
proceeding were initially due March 3, 1998, and reply comments were
due April 2, 1998. By Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing
Comments of February 23, 1998 (``February 23 Order''), the Mass Media
Bureau extended the deadline for filing comments to May 4, 1998 and for
filing reply comments to June 2, 1998. On May 13, 1998, The Office of
Communication of the United Church of Christ, the Benton Foundation,
the Center for Media Education, the Civil Rights Forum, and the Media
Access Project (``Petitioners'') submitted a Request for Extension of
Time to file reply comments. Petitioners contend that additional time
is necessary to examine, analyze and respond to the economic studies
filed as comments in this proceeding. Petitioners request that the
Commission extend the reply comment deadline to August 3, 1998.
The Commission's Rules state that it is our policy that extensions
of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be
routinely granted. 47 CFR 1.46. However, as we stated in the February
23 Order, the complexity of the instant proceeding and the potential
benefits of the commenters' economic studies warranted the original
extension of the comment period. The economic studies submitted by
commenters are consistent with the Commission's request in paragraph 27
of the NPRM, that commenters ``make specific recommendations as to the
level of the fee and type of fee assessment program
[[Page 29688]]
to which the fee is to be tied and to provide evidence to build a
record supporting those recommendations.'' Petitioners request an
extension of time so that they can seek to an economist to examine,
analyze and respond to the various economic studies that have been
submitted. In order to achieve the full benefits of the economic
studies filed in this proceeding, and to permit a comprehensive
analysis of these studies, we will grant petitioners additional time to
analyze the commenters' studies and to file reply comments. This
extension can provide the Commission a more complete record in this
proceeding.
Accordingly, It is ordered that the time for filing reply comments
Is extended to August 3, 1998.
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.
154(i) and 303(r), and sections 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45 of the
Commission's Rules.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Television, Television broadcasting.
Federal Communications Commission.
Roy J. Stewart,
Chief, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-14377 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-07-P