Cable Services; Amendment of Equal Employment Opportunity Rules

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1, 73 and 76

[MM Docket 94-34; DA 94-495]

Cable Services; Amendment of Equal Employment Opportunity Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 12, 1994, the Office of Communications of the United

Church of Christ, the Institute for Public Representation, and the

Minority Media and Employment Council (hereinafter ``Petitioners'')

filed a Request for Extension of Time to Submit Comments to the

Commission's Notice of Inquiry, FCC 94-103, released April 12, 1994.

Petitioners requested that we extend the dates for submission of

comments 21 days, through and including June 13, 1994, and give a

comparable extension of time for the submission of reply comments. We

believe that the petitioners in this case may be in a particularly good

position to assist the Commission given their longstanding involvement

in these issues. Accordingly, we grant the requested relief. We extend

the dates for filing comments and reply comments in this proceeding to

June 13, 1994, and June 28, 1994, respectively.

DATES: Initial comments due June 13, 1994; reply comments due June 28,

1994.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Hope G. Cooper, Mass Media Bureau, Enforcement Division. (202) 632-

7069.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Order Granting Motion for Extension of Time to File Comments

Adopted: May 16, 1994

Released: May 16, 1994

By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau:

1. On April 20, 1994, the Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry,

FCC 94-103, released April 21, 1994, to obtain comment on the

effectiveness of the Commission's rules, procedures, policies,

standards and guidelines in promoting equality of employment

opportunity. Comment and Reply Comment dates were established for May

23, 1994, and June 7, 1994, respectively.

2. On May 12, 1994, the Office of Communications of the United

Church of Christ, the Institute for Public Representation, and the

Minority Media and Employment Council (hereinafter ``Petitioners'')

filed a Request For Extension of Time to Submit Comments. Petitioners

requested that we extend the dates for submission of comments 21 days,

through and including June 13, 1994, and give a comparable extension of

time for the submission of reply comments. In support of their request

petitioners stated that the 30 day time period is an insufficient

amount of time to prepare a comprehensive response to issues raised in

the Notice. They state that they are limited in staff size and lack the

resources to respond to the Notice in such a short time. They also

argue that an extension of time would aid the Commission's decisional

processes by enabling a greater number of parties to participate and by

allowing them the opportunity to further the quality of their

submissions.

3. As set forth in Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR

Sec. 1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time not be routinely

granted. However, we believe that the petitioners in this case may be

in a particularly good position to assist the Commission given their

longstanding involvement in these issues. Accordingly, we will grant

the requested relief. However, given the October 5th deadline for the

Commission to submit its report to Congress, we do not intend to grant

further extensions of time.

4. Accordingly, it is ordered, that the Request For Extension of

Time filed by Petitioners is granted.

5. It is therefore ordered that the dates for filing comments and

reply comments in this proceeding are extended to June 13, 1994, and

June 28, 1994, respective.

6. 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. Sec. 4(i) and 303(r) and Sec. 0.204(b), 9.283 and 1.46 of the

Commissions Rules, 47 CFR Sec. 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46.

7. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Hope

Cooper, Enforcement Division, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 632-7069.

Federal Communications Commission.

Roy J. Stewart,

Chief, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 94-12512 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]

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