NOTICE ********************************************************* NOTICE ********************************************************* This document was originally prepared in Word Perfect. If the original document contained-- * Footnotes * Boldface & Italics --this information is missing in this version The document format (spacing, margins, tabs, etc.) is changed too. If you need the complete document, download the Word Perfect version. For information about downloading documents (FTP) see file pnmc5021. File how2ftp (.txt & .wp) is in directory \pub\Public_Notices\Miscellaneous. ***************************************************************** ******** $//Extension of Dates, Affiliation Contracts MM 95-40 DA 95-1304//$ $/73.3613(a) Filing of Contracts/$ $/For Record Only/$ DA 95-1304 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Part 73 of the ) Commission's Rules concerning the ) MM Docket No. 95-40 Filing of Television Network ) Affiliation Contracts ) ORDER DENYING SUSPENSION OF DATES FOR FILING COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS Adopted: June 12, 1995; Released: June 12, 1995 By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau: 1. On April 5, 1995, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making to evaluate the continued validity of its rules concerning the filing of television network affiliation contracts, which are set forth in Section 73.3613(a) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  73.3613(a). Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No. 95-40, FCC 95- 145 (released April 5, 1995). Comments in this proceeding are currently due on June 12, 1995, and reply comments are due on July 12, 1995. 2. On June 5, 1995, AFLAC Broadcast Group, Inc. ("AFLAC") filed a request for a suspension of the comment and reply comment filing dates in this proceeding. More specifically, AFLAC requests that we either suspend the current dates for filing comments and reply comments and formally consolidate this proceeding with other planned rulemaking proceedings that would involve our network/affiliate rules, or that we extend the comment dates in this proceeding to make them coincide with those of other upcoming network/affiliate rulemaking proceedings. AFLAC argues in support of its request that the Commission intends to undertake a comprehensive review of its rules governing the relationship between television networks and their affiliates, that all these rules are interrelated, and that it would be useful to both commenters and the Commission to address proposed changes to these rules at the same time. 3. As set forth in Section 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.46, it is our policy that extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. Moreover, we conclude that the public interest would not be served by altering the comment dates in this proceeding. Commenters are, of course, free to discuss in their submissions to the Commission the relevance of the connections between our affiliation contract rule and the other network/affiliate rules, as well as any arguments that might justify linking action on the affiliation contract rule with any possible action we may propose in connection with these other rules. However, we do not believe that AFLAC has provided sufficient reason at this juncture to justify postponement of the comment dates in this proceeding. 4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Request for Suspension of Dates filed in MM Docket No. 95-40 by AFLAC Broadcast Group, Inc., is DENIED. 5. This action is taken 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), 0.283 and 1.45 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.45. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Roy J. Stewart Chief, Mass Media Bureau