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[Federal Register: September 25, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 186)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 48981-48982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se01-12]                         

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 76

[CS Docket No. 98-120, CS Docket No. 00-96; CS Docket No. 00-2, FCC 01-
22]

 
Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the effective date of certain sections 
of the Commission's broadcast signal carriage rules, 47 CFR 76.5(b), 
76.56(e), 76.57, 76.62, 76.64, 76.922, and 76.1603(c) which were 
amended to require that a digital-only television station may assert 
its right to mandatory carriage. Specifically, new television stations 
that transmit only digital signals, and current television stations 
that return their analog spectrum allocation and convert to digital 
operations, must be carried on cable systems. Certain sections of these 
rules contained information collection requirements that required the 
approval of the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') before they 
could become effective. These sections of the broadcast signal carriage 
rules have been approved by OMB and become effective on September 25, 
2001.

DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 76.5(b), 76.56(e), 76.57, 76.62, 76.64, 
76.922, and 76.1603(c), published at 66 FR 16533 (March 26, 2001), 
become effective on September 25, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eloise Gore of the Consumer Protection 
and Competition Division, Cable Services Bureau at (202) 418-7200, TTY 
(202) 418-7172, or via Internet at <A HREF="mailto:egore@fcc.gov">egore@fcc.gov</A>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 18, 2001, the Commission adopted 
a Report and Order amending its rules to require cable systems to carry 
the digital signals of local television broadcast stations under the 
circumstances described in the Report and Order. A summary of the 
Report and Order was published in the Federal Register at 66 FR 16533 
(March 26, 2001). The Order adopted amendments to 47 CFR 76.5(b), 
76.56(e), 76.57, 76.62, 76.64, 76.922, and 76.1603(c) to implement the 
new requirements for carriage and retransmission consent. The rules 
cover a wide range of topics including: carriage obligations and 
definitions, channel positioning, retransmission consent, cable rates, 
and notice to customers. The rule sections contained information 
collection requirements that required OMB approval before they could 
become effective. OMB approved the information collection requirements 
on September 14, 2001. See OMB No. 3060-0844. Accordingly, amendments 
to sections 76.5(b), 76.56(e), 76.57, 76.62, 76.64, 76.922, and 
76.1603(c) of the rules, become effective on September 25, 2001. This 
document constitutes publication of the effective date of those 
sections.

[[Page 48982]]

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 76

    Cable television, Carriage, Digital television, Mandatory carriage, 
Television broadcast stations.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-23971 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

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