Revision of Broadcast EEO Policies

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 73

[MM Docket No. 96-16, DA 96-1279]

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 96-1279,

released August 9, 1996, (Streamlining), the Commission granted a

motion for extension of time and for waiver of filing deadline

concerning the Commission's Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making,

MM Docket No. 96-16, (NPRM). A group of organizations requested the

extension of time and waiver of filing deadline due to difficulties

resulting from staff shortages, computer failures, and ``obtaining

consensus'' from each of the 20 participating organizations. In the

interest of compiling a full record in the rulemaking, the Commission

extended the dates for filing comments and reply comments.

DATES: Initial comments were due August 26, 1996; reply comments due

September 25, 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: August 9, 1996.

Released: August 9, 1996.

Comment Date: August 26, 1996.

Reply Comment Date: September 25, 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 requested that we extend

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

ten days, until July 11, 1996.3 On June 26, 1996, we granted the

Petitioners' request for extension of time to file comments and, on our

own motion, extended the date for filing reply comments.4 The date

for filing comments was extended to July 11, 1996, and the date for

filing reply comments was extended to August 12, 1996.

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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\ 11 FCC Rcd 7624 (1996), 61 FR 37241 (July 17, 1996).

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4. On August 5, 1996, the Petitioners filed a Further Motion for

Extension of Time, and for Waiver of Filing Deadline. Therein,

Petitioners request that the Commission waive the filing deadline for

its comments and extend the reply comment deadline. In support of their

request, Petitioners state that staff shortages, computer failures, and

``obtaining consensus'' from each of the 20 organizations, have

presented difficulties in assembling their filing. They state that they

need ``approximately two weeks'' to complete their research and file

comments.

5. 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). Petitioners have requested and received two extensions of time

to file comments in this rulemaking. In addition, the instant motion

was filed more than three weeks after the deadline for filing comments

in this proceeding. Finally, Petitioners' failure to file comments in a

timely manner is entirely attributable to matters under their control.

Nevertheless, in the interest of compiling a full record in this

rulemaking, we will accept comments through August 26, 1996.

Consequently, we shall extend the deadline for filing reply comments to

September 25, 1996. Petitioners are hereby advised that we do not

contemplate further extensions of time in this proceeding.

6. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Further Motion for Extension

of Time, and for Waiver of Filing Deadline is granted.

7. It is further ordered that comments will be accepted through

August 26, 1996, and reply comments will be due on September 25, 1996.

8. 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.

Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the

Federal Register on August 29, 1996.

[FR Doc. 96-22533 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]

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