Mass Media Ownership Rules

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8; 94-149 and 91-140; and 94-150, 92-51

and 87-154; DA 95-1373]

Mass Media Ownership Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Commission granted an extension of time to file reply

comments in the above three proceedings in response to a request filed

by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council to extend the

filing dates for two of the three proceedings. The three related

rulemaking items involve ownership of television stations, minority and

female ownership of mass media facilities, and attribution of ownership

interests.

The Commission had already granted an extension of the original

deadline for filing comments in the three proceedings from April 17,

1995, to May 17, 1995, and had extended the original deadline for

filing reply comments from May 17, 1995, to June 19, 1995. 60 Fed. Reg.

19566 (April 19, 1995). Petitioners requested an additional two-week

extension of time to file reply comments in the proceedings dealing

with minority and female ownership and attribution. The Commission

determined that a three-week extension was warranted for all three

proceedings because of the possible relevance of the issues addressed

by the Supreme Court in Adarand Construction v. Pena, No. 93-1841 (June

12, 1995).

DATES: Reply comments are now due on July 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jane Hinckley Halprin or Mania Baghdadi at (202) 776-1653, or Robert

Kieschnick at (202) 739-0764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Reply Comments

Adopted: June 16, 1995; Released: June 16, 1995

By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau:

1. On December 15, 1994, the Commission adopted three related

rulemaking items regarding ownership of television stations, minority

and female ownership of the mass media, and attribution of ownership

interests. Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-

221 and 87-8, 10 FCC Rcd 3524 (1995) 60 FR 6490, February 2, 1995 (TV

Ownership Further Notice); Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket

Nos. 94-149 and 91-140, 10 FCC Rcd 2788 (1995) 60 FR 6068, February 1,

1995 (Minority/Female Ownership Notice); Notice of Proposed Rule Making

in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51, and 87-154, 10 FCC Rcd 3606 (1995) 60

FR 6483, February 2, 1995 (Attribution Notice). Comments in all three

proceedings were initially due on April 17, 1995, and reply comments

were initially due on May 17, 1995. By Order released April 7, 1995 60

FR 19566, April 19, 1995, the time for filing comments in the three

proceedings was extended to May 17, 1995, and the time for filing reply

comments was extended to June 19, 1995. In addition, in an Order

released on June 15, 1995, we extended the time for filing reply

comments in response to the TV Ownership Further Notice to June 30,

1995.

2. On June 16, 1995, the Minority Media and Telecommunications

Council (Petitioner) filed a request for an additional two-week

extension of time to file reply comments in response to the Attribution

Notice and the Minority/Female Ownership Notice. Petitioner contends

additional time is needed to analyze the effect of the Commission's

minority ownership policies of the Supreme Court's recent decision in

Adarand Construction v. Pena, No. 93-1841 (June 12, 1995).

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

Sec. 1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing comments

in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. The initial

comment period in all three proceedings was longer than usual, and one

30-day extension of time for all three proceedings has already been

granted. However, because of the possible relevance of the issues

addressed in Adarand to the highly

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complex rulemakings that are the subject of the instant request, we

believe a further extension of the reply comment deadline for the

Minority/Female Ownership Notice and the Attribution Notice is

warranted. Because there may be benefit to a concurrent schedule for

the three proceedings, we also, on our own motion, extend the reply

comment deadline for the TV Ownership Further Notice.

4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time

filed in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51, 87-154, 94-149 and 91-140 by the

Minority Media and Telecommunications Council IS granted to the extent

detailed above.

5. It is further ordered that the time for filing reply comments in

the three above-captioned proceedings is extended to July 10, 1995.

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. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45

of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Secs. 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.45.

Federal Communications Commission.

Roy J. Stewart,

Chief, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 95-16072 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M