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 pnmc5021 (.txt & .wp) is in directory \pub\Public_Notices\Miscellaneous. ***************************************************************** ******** Federal Communications Commission DA 96-1033 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Streamlining Broadcast EEO Rule ) MM Docket No. 96-16 and Policies, Vacating the EEO ) Forfeiture Policy Statement and ) Amending Section 1.80 of the ) Commission's Rules to Include ) EEO Forfeiture Guidelines ) ORDER Adopted: June 26, 1996; Released: June 26, 1996 Comment Date: July 11, 1996 Reply Comment Date: August 12, 1996 By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau: 1. On February 8, 1996, the Commission adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 11 FCC Rcd 5154 (1996) (NPRM), which vacated the Commission's EEO Forfeiture Policy Statement and requested comment on proposals for amending the Commission's EEO Rule and policies. Comment and Reply Comment dates were established for April 30, 1996, and May 30, 1996, respectively. 2. On April 12, 1996, twenty organizations, including the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (hereinafter "Petitioners"), filed a Motion for Extension of Time to file comments in response to the above-captioned proceeding. On April 26, 1996, the Commission granted the Petitioners' request for extension of time. The date for filing comments was extended to July 1, 1996, and the date for filing reply comments was extended to July 31, 1996. 3. On June 20, 1996, Petitioners filed a Motion for Further Extension of Time. Therein, Petitioners request that we extend further the date for submission of comments in response to the NPRM by ten days, until July 11, 1996. Petitioners do not seek an extension of the reply comment deadline. In support of their request, petitioners state that they are conducting "very extensive research on broadcast stations' EEO practices, in order to provide the Commission and the other parties with a useful database for evaluation of the Commission's proposals." They assert that due to, among other things, staff shortages, "it is physically impossible to complete this task by July 1." 4. It is Commission policy that extensions of time not be routinely granted. See Section 1.46(a) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. Section 1.46(a). We believe, however, that the public interest favors grant of the request for extension of time for filing comments in this proceeding. In addition, we believe that the public interest favors a corresponding extension of time for filing reply comments. Accordingly, we will extend the date for filing comments to July 11, 1996, and extend the date for filing reply comments to August 12, 1996. 5. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that the Motion for Extension of Time filed by Petitioners IS GRANTED and that the Commission, on its own motion, also EXTENDS the time for filing reply comments. 6. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the dates for filing comments and reply comments in this proceeding ARE EXTENDED to July 11, 1996, and August 12, 1996, respectively. 7. 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. Sections 4(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. Sections 0.204(b), 0.283 and 1.46. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Roy J. Stewart Chief, Mass Media Bureau