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                            Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of                )
                                )
1998 Biennial Regulatory Review --)
Streamlining of Radio Technical Rules in)  MM Docket No. 98-93
Parts 73 and 74 of the Commission's Rules)


                             ORDER

   Adopted:  July 23, 1998              Released:  July 23, 1998

By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau:

     1.  On June 11, 1998, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order in this
proceeding.  The Notice, undertaken in conjunction with the 1998 biennial regulatory review, is part of the
Commission's broad-based initiative to streamline Mass Media Bureau rules, policies and licensing procedures. 
The Notice solicited comment on several proposals to substantially streamline and otherwise revise a wide
variety of radio technical rules.  The Notice set the comment filing deadline at August 21, 1998 and the reply
comment filing deadline at September 21, 1998.

     2.  On July 15, 1998, the National Association of Broadcasters ("NAB") filed a "Motion for Extension of
Time of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines."  In support of its request, NAB reports that it has formed
an ad hoc committee of broadcast engineers to study the proposals set forth in the Notice.  NAB states that the
committee will hold its first meeting on July 15, 1998, and NAB expects the committee to have other meetings
during the summer.  According to NAB, the committee needs additional time to meet, discuss the issues, and
form conclusions regarding the possible impact of the Commission's proposals.  Therefore, NAB requests an
extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines to October 20, 1998 and November 20, 1998,
respectively, so that NAB and radio broadcasters can participate more effectively in this proceeding.

     3.  We will grant the requested extension.  Section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules sets forth our policy
of not routinely granting extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings.  We are also
reluctant to grant extensions in this proceeding given our desire to complete it as expeditiously as possible. 
However, this proceeding raises a number of complex technical issues affecting the nature of the broadcast
radio service provided to the public.  We agree with NAB that a well-documented record will provide a more
informed decision as to how the technical rules should be modified.  The ad hoc committee of engineers that
NAB has formed has the potential to make a significant contribution to such a record.  NAB represents many
of the parties that will most directly be affected by any actions we take in this regard, and it has shown good
cause why a sixty-day extension will enable it to provide more well-informed comments.  Moreover, no party
will be prejudiced by this extension.  Rather, all may make good use of the additional time to prepare and
present well-supported comments on these important issues.  Finally, this extension will permit full
consideration of additional technical information made available in the past several days by the Office of
Engineering and Technology and the Mass Media Bureau.     4.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED That the "Motion for Extension of Time of Comment and Reply
Comment Deadlines" filed by the National Association of Broadcasters in MM Docket No. 98-93 IS
GRANTED.  The time for filing comments in the above-captioned proceeding IS EXTENDED by sixty days,
until October 20, 1998.

     5.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED That the time for filing reply comments in the above-captioned proceeding
likewise IS EXTENDED for sixty days, until November 20, 1998.

     6.  This action is taken pursuant to the authority found in Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.46 of the
Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.204(b), 0.283, and 1.46.

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                              Roy J. Stewart
                              Chief, Mass Media Bureau