[Federal Register: January 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 9)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 2461] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14ja99-19] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 0, 73, and 76 [MM Docket No. 98-204, DA 99-105] Revision of Broadcast and Cable EEO Rules and Policies AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment and reply comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies, DA 99-105, released January 5, 1999, the Commission grants a motion for extension of time. The National Association of Broadcasters requests the extension of time in order that its Board of Directors have sufficient time, during their board meeting in mid-January, to review the issues and proposals raised in the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and, thereafter to prepare comments concerning these issues and proposals. The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council expressed support for this request in a letter to the Commission. The Commission believes that the public interest would be served by an extension of the comment period in this proceeding because it would enable commenters to file comprehensive comments on the important issues raised in the NPRM. DATES: Comments due February 18, 1999; reply comments due March 23, 1999. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hope G. Cooper, Mass Media Bureau, Enforcement Division. (202) 418- 1450. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. On November 20, 1998, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No. 98-204, 63 FR 66104, December 1, 1998, (NPRM), requesting comment on various proposals concerning the Commission's broadcast and cable EEO rules and policies. Comment and reply comment deadlines were established for January 19, 1999, and February 18, 1999, respectively. 2. On December 17, 1998, the National Association of Broadcasters (``NAB'') filed a ``Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines'' (``Motion''). Therein, the NAB requested that we extend the due dates for the submission of comments and reply comments in response to the NPRM to February 18, 1999, and March 23, 1999, respectively. In support of its request, the NAB asserts that the NPRM raises many important issues and proposals ``that need to be fully reviewed and discussed by the NAB Board of Directors,'' and that grant of the extension would allow time for the NAB Board to conduct such a review and discussion at their January Board Meeting (which occurs January 9-13, 1999) and, thereafter, ``for NAB staff to prepare comments consistent with the decisions made by the Board.'' \1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ National Association of Broadcasters Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines, filed December 17, 1998, at 1, 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. On January 4, 1999, the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (``MMTC'') sent a letter to the Commission expressing support for the NAB's Motion. The MMTC stated that ``[o]wing to the extensive amount of detail requested of commenters [in the NPRM], it would be virtually impossible [for MMTC] to file comprehensive comments by the initial due date.'' \2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Letter from David Earl Honig, Executive Director, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, to Renee Licht, Deputy Chief of the Mass Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, dated January 4, 1999, at 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. We believe the public interest would be served by an extension of the comment period in this proceeding because it would enable commenters to file comprehensive comments on the important issues raised in the NPRM. Accordingly, we will extend the date for filing comments to February 18, 1999, and extend the date for filing reply comments to March 23, 1999. We do not contemplate further extensions of the comment cycle of this proceeding. 5. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time filed by the National Association of Broadcasters is granted. 6. It is therefore ordered that the dates for filing comments and reply comments in this proceeding are extended to February 18, 1999, and March 23, 1999, respectively. 7. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r), and 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46. List of Subjects 47 CFR Part 0 Organization and functions (Government agencies). 47 CFR Part 73 Radio, Equal employment opportunity, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Television. 47 CFR Part 76 Cable television, Equal employment opportunity, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Federal Communications Commission. Roy J. Stewart, Chief, Mass Media Bureau. [FR Doc. 99-903 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-M