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

In the Matter of                   )
                              )
                                   Carriage of the Transmissions           )    CS Docket No. 98-120
of Digital Television Broadcast Stations     )
                                                            )
                                   Amendments to Part 76              )
of the Commission's Rules               )    


                             ORDER

     Adopted:  August 27, 1998          Released:  August 27, 1998   

By the Chief, Cable Services Bureau:

     1.   In this Order, we address a Motion for Extension of Time filed by the Association of Local
Television Stations, Inc. ("ALTV") on August 12, 1998.  ALTV moves for an extension of time in which to
file comments and reply comments in the above-captioned proceeding.  Comments are currently due to be filed
on September 17, 1998.  Reply comments are currently due on October 30, 1998.  ALTV asks the Commission
to extend the comment and reply comment dates to October 16, 1998, and November 30, 1998, respectively. 
This Motion is unopposed.

     2.   ALTV asserts that good cause exists for granting the request.   ALTV states that a brief
extension would enable the ALTV Board of Directors to consider and debate the many digital broadcast signal
carriage implementation issues raised in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this docket.  ALTV argues that
unless the extension is granted, the board would be denied a meaningful opportunity to discuss and offer the
Commission its best thinking on the matters involved.  ALTV explains that its board is scheduled to meet on
September 28 and 29, 1998, just eleven days after the current comment deadline in this proceeding.  The
extension of the comment date to October 16, 1998, would enable ALTV to prepare comments fully reflective
of the board's deliberations.  ALTV emphasizes that face-to-face discussions of these issues are essential to
the development of positions which reflect sound business and technical considerations.  ALTV asserts that
such a meeting has been difficult to schedule, due to timing conflicts, any earlier than late September.

     3.   We believe that the facts in this proceeding warrant granting ALTV's request, in part.  We note
that the members of this association are among those most likely to rely on must carry rules to secure carriage
of their digital signals.  An accurate and complete record that an extension will afford, can only lead to a better
informed decision by the Commission in a matter that will materially affect the rights of ALTV's members. 
At the same time, however, we believe that a slightly shorter timeframe to file comments and reply comments
is appropriate in this important proceeding.  Therefore, we designate October 13, 1998 and November 24, 1998
as the dates that comments and reply comments will be due, respectively.  These new dates take into account
ALTV's request while, at the same time, recognizing the Commission's goal of having an expeditious filing
period.

     4.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.
Section 1.46, that the Motion for an Extension of Time to file comments and reply comments filed by the
Association of Local Television Stations, Inc.,  IS GRANTED IN PART.  

     5.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the deadline for filing comments in this proceeding IS
EXTENDED until October 13, 1998, and the deadline for filing reply comments IS EXTENDED until
November 24, 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), 0.321, and
1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.204(b), 0.321, and 1.46.

 
                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 



                              Deborah A. Lathen
                              
                              
     Chief, Cable Services Bureau