NEWSReport No. CS 96-20                    ACTION IN DOCKET CASE              April 26, 1996

        COMMISSION ADOPTS REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF
    PROPOSED RULEMAKING REGARDING DEFINITION OF MARKETS FOR PURPOSES
        OF THE  CABLE TELEVISION BROADCAST SIGNAL CARRIAGE RULES.
                          (CS DOCKET NO. 95-178)

     The Commission has decided to continue to use Arbitron's 1991-1992 "Area of
Dominant Influence" or "ADI" market list for purposes of determining local television
markets for commercial broadcast television stations' 1996 must-carry/retransmission consent
election and to use Nielsen's "Designated Market Areas" or "DMAs" to define markets
beginning with the 1999 election.  This action is necessary because the mechanism used by
the Commission relies on Arbitron's commercially published market list which is no longer
available.  The Report and Order revises Section 76.55(e) of the rules accordingly.    

     The Commission has decided to postpone the switch to a DMA based market standard
because it is concerned about potential problems that might result from an immediate change
of market definitions.  A switch to DMAs will affect a greater number of stations, cable
systems, and cable subscribers than would have been affected by simply using a newer ADI
market list, as the rules had contemplated.  

     The Commission is issuing the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to seek
comments on mechanisms for facilitating the transition from a market definition based on
ADIs to one based on DMAs.   In addition, in light of the new statutory requirement that the
Commission act on Section 614(h) market modification petitions within 120 days, the
Commission is requesting comment on changes to the Section 614(h) process that would
establish specific requirements regarding the evidence to be submitted in support of any
requests for market modification.  
     
     Action by the Commission by Order and Further Notice of proposed Rulemaking,
April 25, 1996 (FCC 96-197), Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.

News Media Contact:  Morgan Broman (202) 418-7200
Cable Services Bureau Contact:  Marcia Glauberman (202) 418-7200