Report No. MM 95-42          MASS MEDIA ACTION                  May 5, 1995


         COMMISSION GRANTS APPLICATIONS TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF 13
                   TELEVISION LICENSES HELD BY STAUFFER
            COMMUNICATIONS TO MORRIS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

     The FCC has granted the applications to transfer control of
13 television licenses (nine television stations and four
television translator stations, including WIBW-TV, Topeka, KS)
held by Stauffer Communications, Inc., to Morris Communications
Corporation.  Stauffer also owns The Topeka Capital-Journal, a
daily newspaper published in Topeka, which Morris is also
acquiring.  Because the acquisition of WIBW-TV and the daily
newspaper in Topeka will cause Morris to violate the Commission's
television-newspaper cross-ownership rule, Morris requested and
was granted a temporary waiver of the television-newspaper cross-
ownership rule.

     Morris also requested and was granted a waiver of the
multiple ownership rules to continue operating KSTF(TV) and
KTVS(TV) as satellites of KGWN(TV), and KGWR(TV and KGWL(TV) as
satellites of KGWC-TV, pursuant to the satellite exception set
forth in Note 5 of Section 73.3555 of the Commission's rules.

     The stations involved are: 1) KCOY-TV, Santa Maria, CA; 2)
KMIZ(TV), Columbia, MO; 3) WIBW-TV, Topeka, KS; 4) KGWN-TV,
Cheyenne, WY; 5) KSTF(TV), Scottsbluff, NE; 6) KTVS(TV),
Sterling, CO; 7) KGWC-TV, Casper, WY; 8) KGWR-TV, Rock Springs,
WY; 9) KGWL-TV, Lander, WY; 10) KO81Q, Laramie, WY; 11) K68DC,
Clareton, WY; 12) K16AE, Gillette, WY; and, 13) K44DN, Paso
Robles, CA.

     In order to comply with the television-newspaper cross-
ownership rule, Morris requested and was granted an 18-month
temporary waiver of the rule.  Within that waiver period, Morris
will divest itself of television WIBW-TV, Topeka, KS.  

     Having determined that the applicants are qualified in all
respects, the Commission found that grant of the transfer of
control of the licenses held by Stauffer to Morris will serve the
public interest, convenience and necessity.


                                  (over)


                                    -2-

     Action by the Commission May 2, 1995, by Memorandum Opinion
and Order (FCC 95-184).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello,
Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact: Marlene Dortch at (202) 418-1630.