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SXP"i~'^:DPddDDDdp4D48dddddddddd88pppX|pDL|pp||D8D\dDXdXdXDdd88d8ddddDL8ddddX`(`lD4l\DDD4DDDDDDDDd8XXXXXX|X|X|X|XD8D8D8D8ddddddddddXdbdddpdXXXXXlX~|X|X|X|XdddldldD8DdDDDdplld|8|P|D|D|8dvddddDDDpLpLpLpl|T|8|\ddddddl|X|X|Xd|DdpL|Dd~4ddC$CWxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNHxxH\dDXddddd8@d<@d<DDXXdDDxddzHxxHvppDXd<"dxtldpxxd"i~'^09CSS999S]+9+/SSSSSSSSSS//]]]Ixnnxg]xx9?xgxx]xn]gxxxxg9/9MS9ISISI9SS//S/SSSS9?/SSxSSIP!PZ9+ZM999+99999999S/xIxIxIxIxIlnIgIgIgIgI9/9/9/9/xSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxIxSxRxSxSxS]SxIxIxInInInZnIxigIgIgIgIxSxSxSxZxSxZxS9/9S999Su]ZZxSg/gCg9g9g/xSbxSxSxSxSxn9n9n9]?]?]?]ZgFg/gMxSxSxSxSxSxSxxZgIgIgIxSg9xS]?g9xSi+SS88WuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxN/>/>/>/x]SSSSx]x]x]x]xSxSx]SSxSxSf]xSxSxSxIxIxWxIx{nInInInISSSWS]a?/?]?9?]]WW]n/nKn9nCn/x]xx]x]SSxxIxIxI]?]?]?]WnUn9nax]x]x]x]x]x]xxWnInInIx]n9x]]?n9xSz+SS8-8WuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxN8HH"&H>XHH8HB8>HH^HH>"".2",2,2,"222N2222"&22H22,006"6."""""""""""2H,H,H,H,H,XAB,>,>,>,>,""""H2H2H2H2H2H2H2H2H2H2H,H2H1H2H2H282H,H,H,B,B,B6B,H?>,>,>,>,H2H2H2H6H2H6H2""2"""2F866H2>>(>">">H2;H2H2H2H2XHB"B"B"8&8&8&86>*>>.H2H2H2H2H2H2^HH6>,>,>,H2>"H28&>"H2?22!!WFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxN$<<$.2",2222`2 LL2 LL2L"",,2d""0DMAs" interim waiver policy. As noted previously, see supra 7, we have stated that it we will be disinclined, during the pendency of the broadcast television ownership rule making proceeding, to grant waivers requests not meeting the specified criteria, absent extraordinary circumstances. Moreover, the number of competing television stations in these markets is limited, and in one case, there are no such stations. Notwithstanding these substantial considerations disfavoring waiver in these markets, we believe that the extraordinary circumstances, as detailed below, do exist which justify waivers for each of these duopolies.  X0 19. Although we stated that we would be disinclined to grant waiver requests not meeting the specified criteria, we have also stated that "in situations such as [] multiplestation transaction[s] . . . we believe facilitating such a transaction by temporary waiver of our multiple ownership rules will promote commerce, encourage investment in the broadcast  X,0industry, and allow for the free transferability of broadcast licenses.'" Brissette Broadcasting  X0Corp., 11 FCC Rcd 6319, 6324 (1996) (quoting Stockholders of CBS Inc. 11 FCC Rcd at  X03755 (1995)).zXm yO$  ԍ While the AFLACRaycom transaction, which includes WECT(TV) and WTOC(TV), does not involve the   merger of two companies, Raycom represents that the agreement between it and AFLAC Broadcast Group, Inc. contemplates the sale of all of the media properties licensed to AFLAC's various subsidiaries to Raycom.z We have considered the facilitation of such transactions as a compelling  X0circumstance weighing in favor of grant of duopoly waivers in analogous situations. See, e.g.," ,-(-(ZZ "  X0id. With respect to the WDAMTV/WHLT(TV), Mississippi duopoly, consummation of the FEIRaycom merger cannot occur unless we approve Raycom's duopoly requests to allow it to temporarily own FEI's WDAMTV in combination with its WHLT(TV). Grant of temporary waivers would thus facilitate a multistation transaction.""  ,-(-(ZZ#"Ԍ  X0 20. Furthermore, with respect to the Georgia and Mississippi duopolies, Raycom has already filed an application seeking consent to assign the licenses of WSAV(TV) and WHLT(TV) and WJTV(TV) to Media General. Similarly, with respect to the North Carolina duopoly, Raycom reports that on February 18, 1997 it filed an application for consent to assign the license of WITNTV to Gray Communications Systems, Inc. (Gray), contingent on grant and consummation of the transfer of that station from ABG to Raycom. These applications evidence the good faith intention of the applicants to divest the relevant station as expeditiously as possible. Additionally, approving these temporary waivers will facilitate the transaction between Raycom and Media General, the result of which will be the divestiture by Media General of WTVRTV and hence the hastened breakup of a newspapertelevision and  X 0a cabletelevision combination, as ordered by the Commission. See WHOATV, Inc., FCC 96458, released December 10, 1996. We note that we received no objections by other stations, advertisers or the public with reference to these two markets. We note, as well, that the parties have sought, and we will grant, fixed, shortterm waivers in the Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina markets, where diversity will be most limited during the waiver period. These fixed terms provide an imminent, certain end to the temporary common ownership permitted by our decision here. Any extension request would have to be considered in light of the extensive nature of these duopolies. Finally, we will require Raycom to abide by its pledge to maintain the independent operation of these television stations during the waiver period. 21. We will therefore grant Raycom duopoly waivers to allow: common ownership of WDAMTV and WHLT(TV) for a six month period commencing with consummation of the FEIRaycom transaction; common ownership of WTOCTV and WSAV(TV) for a six month period commencing with consummation of the ABPRaycom transaction; and common ownership of WITNTV and WECT(TV) for a six month period commencing with consummation of the ABGRaycom transaction. Also, we will delete the condition placed on the FEIRaycom merger grant, which requires immediate transfer of WDAMTV to MBGI upon consummation of that merger.  X0 Conclusion 22. Having found the applicants qualified in all respects, we conclude that grant of the application to transfer control of WITNTV, Inc. from AFLAC Broadcasting Group, Inc. to Raycom Media, Inc., and to assign the licenses of the five television stations owned by AFLAC Broadcast Partners to Raycom U.S., Inc., will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. 23. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, That the request for waiver of the duopoly rule,"'' ,-(-(ZZP(" Section 73.3555(b) of the Commission's Rules, to permit common ownership of stations KTVO(TV), Kirksville, Missouri and KWWL(TV), Waterloo, Iowa, IS GRANTED, subject to the outcome of the Commission's pending broadcast television ownership rule making (MM Docket Nos. 91221 and 878). Should divestiture be required as a result of that proceeding, the licensee is directed to file, within six months from the release of a final order in MM Docket Nos. 91221 and 878, an application for Commission consent to dispose of such stations as would be necessary for Raycom Media, Inc. to come into compliance with the rules as provided in the final order. 24. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the requests for temporary waiver of the Commission's television duopoly rule, Section 73.3555(b), to permit common ownership of television stations WECT(TV), Wilmington, North Carolina and WITNTV, Washington, North Carolina, IS GRANTED, provided that within six months of the consummation of the transfer of control of WITNTV, Inc. from AFLAC Broadcasting Group, Inc. the licensee must consummate the assignment of license of WITNTV to Gray Communications Systems, Inc., or otherwise come into compliance with the broadcast ownership rules. 25. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the request for temporary waiver of the Commission's television duopoly rule, Section 73.3555(b), to permit common ownership of television stations WSAV(TV), Savannah, Georgia and WTOCTV, Savannah, Georgia, IS GRANTED, provided that within six months of the consummation of the assignment of license of stations from AFLAC Broadcast Partners, the licensee must consummate the assignment of license of WTOCTV to Media General, Inc., or otherwise come into compliance with the broadcast ownership rules.  X0 26. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the applications for consent to the transfer of control of WITNTV, Inc. from AFLAC Broadcasting Group, Inc. to Raycom Media, Inc., (BTCCT960909IG) and to assign the licenses of five television stations from AFLAC Broadcast Partners to Raycom U.S., Inc. (BALCT960909IAIC and 960909IEIF), ARE GRANTED. 27. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the condition placed on the Federal Enterprises, Inc.Raycom Media, Inc. transaction requiring transfer of control of WDAMTV to Media Broadcasting Group, Inc., IS DELETED and Raycom Media Inc.'s requests for temporary waiver of the Commission's television duopoly rule, Section 73.3555(b), to permit common ownership of television stations WDAMTV, Laurel, Mississippi, WJTV(TV), Jackson, Mississippi, and WHLT(TV), Hattiesburg, Mississippi, ARE GRANTED, provided that within six months of the consummation of the merger between Federal Enterprises, Inc. and Raycom Media Subsidiary II, Inc., the licensee must consummate the assignment of license of WJTV(TV) and WHLT(TV) to Media General, Inc, or otherwise come into compliance with the broadcast ownership rules. "#' ,-(-(ZZP("Ԍz"qD  28. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That Raycom Media Subsidiary II, Inc.'s request for a sixty (60) day extension of time within which to consummate its transaction with Federal Enterprises, Inc., IS GRANTED.  z"qE  (z"qF29.( q` `  hhFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION  z"qG  (z"qH29.( q` `  hhWilliam F. Caton q` `  hhActing Secretary