Revision of Broadcast EEO Policies

[[Page 37241]]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 73

[MM Docket No. 96-16, DA 96-1033]

Revision of Broadcast EEO Policies

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment and reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: In Streamlining Broadcast EEO Rules and Policies, DA 96-1033,

released June 26, 1996, (Streamlining), the Commission grants a motion

for extension of time concerning the Commission's Order and Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No. 96-16, (NPRM). A group of

organizations request the extension of time due to, among other things,

staff shortages. The Commission finds that the public interest favors

grant of the motion for extension of time for filing comments, as well

as a corresponding extension of time for filing reply comments.

DATES: Initial comments due July 11, 1996; reply comments due August

12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,

Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hope G. Cooper, Mass Media Bureau,

Enforcement Division. (202) 418-1450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Adopted: June 26, 1996.

Released: June 26, 1996.

Comment Date: July 11, 1996.

Reply Comment Date: August 12, 1996.

1. On February 8, 1996, the Commission adopted an Order and Notice

of Proposed Rule Making, 11 FCC Rcd 5154 (1996), 61 FR 9964 (March 12,

1996) (NPRM), which vacated the Commission's EEO Forfeiture Policy

Statement and requested comment on proposals for amending the

Commission's EEO Rule and policies. Comment and Reply Comment dates

were established for April 30, 1996, and May 30, 1996, respectively.

2. On April 12, 1996, twenty organizations, including the Minority

Media and Telecommunications Council (hereinafter ``Petitioners''),

filed a Motion for Extension of Time to file comments in response to

the above-captioned proceeding.1 On April 26, 1996, the Commission

granted the Petitioners' request for extension of time.2 The date

for filing comments was extended to July 1, 1996, and the date for

filing reply comments was extended to July 31, 1996.

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\1\ See National Council of Churches et al., Petition For

Reconsideration and Clarification, MM Docket No. 96-16, filed April

11, 1996, at 1.

\2\ FCC 96-198 (released: April 26, 1996), 61 FR 25183 (May 20,

1996).

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3. On June 20, 1996, Petitioners filed a Motion for Further

Extension of Time. Therein, Petitioners request that we extend further

the date for submission of comments in response to the NPRM by ten

days, until July 11, 1996. Petitioners do not seek an extension of the

reply comment deadline. In support of their request, petitioners state

that they are conducting ``very extensive research on broadcast

stations' EEO practices, in order to provide the Commission and the

other parties with a useful database for evaluation of the Commission's

proposals.'' 3 They assert that due to, among other things, staff

shortages, ``it is physically impossible to complete this task by July

1.'' 4

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\3\ Minority Media and Telecommunications Council et al., Motion

For Further Extension of Time, MM Docket No. 96-16, filed June 20,

1996, at 1.

\4\ Id. at 2.

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4. It is Commission policy that extensions of time not be routinely

granted. See Section 1.46(a) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Section

1.46(a). We believe, however, that the public interest favors grant of

the request for extension of time for filing comments in this

proceeding. In addition, we believe that the public interest favors a

corresponding extension of time for filing reply comments. Accordingly,

we will extend the date for filing comments to July 11, 1996, and

extend the date for filing reply comments to August 12, 1996.

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

filed by Petitioners is granted and that the Commission, on its own

motion, also extends the time for filing reply comments.

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

reply comments in this proceeding ARE EXTENDED to July 11, 1996, and

August 12, 1996, respectively.

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. Sections 4(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46

of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46.

Federal Communications Commission.

Roy J. Stewart,

Chief, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 96-18077 Filed 7-16-96; 8:45 am]

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