Children's Television

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

Children's Television

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Policy Statement; notice of hearing and extension of comment

period.

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SUMMARY: The Commission will hold a public hearing on the issues raised

concerning the implementation of the Children's Television Act of 1990.

The Commission will also accept additional comments and reply comments.

It has been nearly one year since the last comments were filed in this

proceeding. Submission of this more current information will facilitate

the Commission's ability to make an informed policy decision.

DATES: Requests to appear at the hearing must be submitted by May 11,

1994; written comments must be submitted by June 8, 1994; and reply

comments must be submitted by July 15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Request to appear at the hearing should be sent to: Larry A.

Miller, Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau, Federal

Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.--room 702, Washington, DC

20554.

Comments and reply comments should be sent to: Secretary, Federal

Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554

with copies to the Video Services Division.

The hearing will be held at: Federal Communications Commission,

Room 856, 1919 M Street, NW. Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Larry A. Miller at (202) 632-6993.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

April 20, 1994.

Commission To Hold En Banc Hearing on Children's Television (MM Docket

No. 93-48)

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an en banc hearing

on children's television on Tuesday, June 28, 1994. The hearing will

convene at 9 a.m. in Room 856, at 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC,

and will be open to the public. The Commission has determined that it

would be useful to hear oral presentations and a direct exchange of

viewpoints on the issues raised in the pending children's television

proceeding. The issues in this proceeding focus on the Commission's

current definition of informational and educational programming and the

amount of informational and educational programming a broadcaster must

air to meet its obligation to children under the Children's Television

Act. The Commission had earlier issued a Notice of Inquiry, 8 FCC Rcd

1841 (1993) (58 FR 14367, March 17, 1993), in this proceeding, comments

were filed on May 7, 1993, and reply comment were filed on June 7,

1993.

Parties wishing to make oral presentations and appear on panels to

debate issues at this hearing should submit written requests by close-

of-business, Wednesday, May 11, 1994, to: Larry A. Miller, Video

Services Division, Mass Media Bureau, Federal Communications

Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.--room 702, Washington, DC 20554.

Such requests should clearly identify the speaker, the organization

represented (if any), relevant experience and training, and the

specific topic(s) to be discussed. Appropriate topics include any

issues related to the NOI, and specifically comments on changes in the

availability, quantity, quality and effectiveness of programming

directed to the educational and informational needs of children,

including standard-length programming, that have occurred between the

enactment of the Children's Television Act of 1990 and the present. The

Commission is also interested in comments on the economics of providing

educational and informational programming for children either to the

home or to the classroom.

Depending on the number of requests, it may be necessary to limit

the number of presenters. If so, we will select speakers for the

hearing in order to achieve broad representation of different

viewpoints. With this in mind, interested parties wishing to present

similar material are encouraged to propose a single representative or

consolidated presentation. The precise format and schedule for the en

banc hearing, as well as a list of the selected presenters, will be

specified in a future public notice; however, we anticipate that

presentations will be limited to no more than five minutes.

Persons selected to appear will be required to submit to the

Secretary by close-of-business, Wednesday, June 8, 1994, an original

and 9 copies of the proposed remarks, a summary of those remarks of no

more than two pages, a brief speaker biography, and a description of

the organization represented. In addition, 21 copies of the material

submitted to the Secretary must be submitted to the Video Services

Division by close-of-business on June 8, 1994. Interested persons not

desiring to participate or not selected to participate in the en banc

hearing may file written comments on June 8, 1994. Persons filing

written comments only should comply with Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of

the Commission's Rules. Persons wishing to respond to testimony

presented at the hearing are invited to do so by July 15, 1994.

For more information contact Larry Miller, Video Services

Division, (202) 632-6993. Members of the media should contact

Maureen Peratino, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 632-5050.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 94-10119 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M