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 95-761]

Mass Media Ownership Rules

agency: Federal Communications Commission.

action: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

summary: The Commission extends by 30 days the comment periods for

three interrelated proceedings in order to afford commenters more time

to collect data and perform necessary statistical analyses. The three

proceedings involve (1) the television multiple ownership rules, (2)

incentives to increase minority and female ownership of mass media

facilities and (3) the Commission's rules regarding attribution of

ownership interests. In all three proceedings, the Commission requested

detailed analyses demonstrating the relative benefits and detriments of

current and proposed rules.

dates: Comments due May 17, 1995; reply comments due June 19, 1995.

addresses: Federal Communication Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

for further information contact: Jane Hinckley Halprin, Mass Media

Bureau, Policy and Rules Division, (202) 776-1653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Order Granting Extension of Time for Filing Comments and Reply Comments

Adopted: April 7, 1995;

Released: April 7, 1995.

By the Acting Chief, Mass Media Bureau:

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

rulemaking items. First, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of

Proposed Rule Making regarding ownership of television stations.

Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-

8, FCC 94-322, 60 Fed. Reg. 6490 (Feb. 2, 1995) (TV Ownership Further

Notice). Second, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule

Making seeking comment on initiatives designed to increase minority and

female ownership of the mass media. Notice of Proposed Rule Making in

MM Docket Nos. 94-149 and 91-140, FCC 94-323, 60 Fed. Reg. 6068 (Feb.

1, 1995) (Minority/Female Ownership Notice). Third, the Commission

adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making exploring modification of the

Commission's rules regarding attribution of ownership interests. Notice

of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket Nos. 94-150, 92-51 and 87-154, FCC

94-324, 60 Fed. Reg. 6483 (Feb. 2, 1995) (Attribution Notice). Comments

in all three proceedings are currently due on April 17, 1995, and reply

comments are due on May 17, 1995.

2. The Commission has received a separate request for extension of

the [[Page 19567]] comment periods in each of the three proceedings, as

well as a fourth filing encompassing all the proceedings. On March 16,

1995, LIN Television Corporation, on behalf of several licensees, filed

a request for a 60-day extension of time to respond to the TV Ownership

Further Notice. On March 23, 1995, Communications Corporation of

America, Pappas Stations Partnership and Fant Broadcasting Company of

Nebraska, Inc., filed a joint motion for a 60-day extension of time to

file comments in response to the Attribution Notice. A March 31, 1995,

filing by American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) seeks a 90-day

extension of the comment dates for the Minority/Female Ownership

Notice. The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) on

April 3, 1995, filed a motion for a 90-day extension in all three

proceedings. Petitioners primarily contend that additional time is

necessary to satisfactorily complete the economic and statistical

analyses sought by the Commission.

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

C.F.R. Sec. 1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing

comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. We

note that in all three proceedings, the Commission established a

longer-than-usual initial comment period to provide interested parties

sufficient opportunity to collect and analyze the type of data sought.

Taking into consideration the circumstances outlined by petitioners,

however, we believe that a 30-day extension of time to file comments

and reply comments is warranted and should facilitate the development

of a full and complete record on the issues raised in the three

proceedings.

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

Time in MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8 filed by LIN Television

Corporation; the Motion for Extension of Time in MM Docket Nos. 94-150,

92-51 and 87-154 filed by Communications Corporation of America, Pappas

Stations Partnership and Fant Broadcasting Company of Nebraska, Inc.;

the Request for Extension of Time filed by American Women in Radio and

Television in MM Docket Nos. 94-149 and 91-140; and the Motion for

Extension of Time filed by the Minority Media and Telecommunications

Council in all three of the above-referenced proceedings ARE GRANTED to

the extent detailed above and are otherwise DENIED.

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

three above-captioned proceedings is Extended to May 17, 1995, and the

time for filing reply comments is Extended to June 19, 1995.

7. 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 C.F.R. Secs. 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.45.

Federal Communications Commission.

Renee Licht,

Acting Chief, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 95-9573 Filed 4-18-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M