NOTICE


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                         NOTICE


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                                  Federal Communications Commission              DA 96-1279
                                    
                                    
                               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:  August 9, 1996               Released:  August 9, 1996      
           

Comment Date:  August 26, 1996
Reply Comment Date:  September 25, 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 requested that we extend further the date for submission of comments in
response to the NPRM by ten days, until July 11, 1996.  On June 26, 1996, we granted the
Petitioners' request for extension of time to file comments and, on our own motion, extended the
date for filing reply comments.  The date for filing comments was extended to July 11, 1996,
and the date for filing reply comments was extended to August 12, 1996.

      4.     On August 5, 1996, the Petitioners filed a Further Motion for Extension of Time,
and for Waiver of Filing Deadline.  Therein, Petitioners request that the Commission waive the
filing deadline for its Comments and extend the reply comment deadline.  In support of their
request, Petitioners state that staff shortages, computer failures, and "obtaining consensus" from
each of the 20 organizations, have presented difficulties in assembling their filing.  They state
that they need "approximately two weeks" to complete their research and file comments.

      5.       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).  Petitioners have requested
and received two extensions of time to file comments in this rulemaking.  In addition, the instant
motion was filed more than three weeks after the deadline for filing comments in this proceeding. 
Finally, Petitioners' failure to file comments in a timely manner is entirely attributable to matters
under their control.  Nevertheless, in the interest of compiling a full record in this rulemaking,
we will accept comments through August 26, 1996.  Consequently, we shall extend the deadline
for filing reply comments to September 25, 1996.  Petitioners are hereby advised that we do not
contemplate further extensions of time in this proceeding.

      6.     ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that the Further Motion for Extension of
Time, and for Waiver of Filing Deadline IS GRANTED.

      7.     IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that comments will be accepted through August 26,
1996, and reply comments will be due on September 25, 1996. 

      8.     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