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     B                           efore the
                     Federal Communications CommissionDA 97-2686
                          Washington, D.C.  20554


In the Matter of:     )
     )
Communications Assistance for    )     CC Docket No. 97 - 213
Law Enforcement Act   )


                                   ORDER

     Adopted: December 23, 1997  Released: December 23, 1997


By the Chief, Network Services Division:

     1.    On October 10, 1997, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement certain sections of the Communications Assistance for
Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), 47 U.S.C.  1001 et seq.  Comments were due on
December 12, 1997, and reply comments are due on January 12, 1998.

      2.     The Commission has received a "Request for an Extension of Time to File
Reply Comments" in the above captioned proceeding, filed on December 17, 1997 by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  The FBI asks for an extension of thirty days, which
would change the date for reply comments from January 12, 1998, to February 11, 1998.

      3.     It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely
granted.  The Petitioner cites four special circumstances: "(1) the FBI must coordinate its
reply effort with--and obtain consensus from--approximately fifty (50) Law Enforcement
Technical Forum (LETF) members and other law enforcement agencies across the nation; (2)
this rulemaking involves a complex subject matter that affects not only carriers, but hundreds
of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices; (3) the issues
in this rulemaking invoke critical public safety and privacy concerns, the development of a
complete record is particularly important in this matter; and (4) the current 30-day reply
period coincides with the holidays, which further limits the FBI's undertaking."  

      4.      The circumstances shown by Petitioner establish good cause for an extension
of the reply comment date in this docket.  All parties to this proceeding will be allowed to
file reply comments by February 11, 1998.  

      5.     Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to 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), 0.291 and 1.45 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. 
0.204(b), 0.291 and 1.45, that an additional period of thirty days to submit Reply Comments
IS GRANTED.  The new date for Reply Comments is February 11, 1998. 

      FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



      Geraldine A. Matise
      Chief, Network Services Division
      Common Carrier Bureau