[Federal Register: September 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 178)]
[Notices]
[Page 55630-55631]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se04-47]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[MB Docket No. 04-228; DA 04-2906]
Elimination of Market Entry Barriers for Small Telecommunications
Businesses and Allocations of Spectrum-Based Services for Small
Businesses and Businesses Owned by Women and Minorities
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice, extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Media Bureau extends the period for
comment and reply comment in this proceeding that seeks comment on
constitutionally permissible ways for the Commission to further its
legislative mandate to identify and eliminate market entry barriers for
small telecommunications businesses and to further opportunities in the
allocation of spectrum-based services for small businesses and
businesses owned by women and minorities. The deadline to file comments
is extended from September 10, 2004, to October 12, 2004, and the
deadline to file reply comments is extended from October 8, 2004, to
November 8, 2004. The action is taken to respond to a Motion for
Extension of Time.
DATES: Comments are due on or before October 12, 2004, and reply
comments are due on or before November 8, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Portals II, 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Salovaara, Industry Analysis
Division, Media Bureau, (202) 418-2330 or Julie.Salovaara@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's
Public Notice, DA-04-2906, in MB Docket No. 04-228, released on
September 8, 2004. The full text of this Public Notice is available for
inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC
Reference Center, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Portals II,
Washington, DC 20554, and may also be purchased from the Commission's
copy contractor, Best Company and Printing,
[[Page 55631]]
Inc., Room CY-B402, telephone (800) 378-3160, http://www.bcpiweb.com.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(electronic files, large print, audio format and Braille), send an e-
mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at (202) 418-0531 (voice), 418-7365 (TTY).
On June 15, 2004, the Media Bureau (``Bureau'') released a Public
Notice seeking comment on constitutionally permissible ways to further
the mandates of section 257 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47
U.S.C. 257, which directs the Commission to identify and eliminate
market entry barriers for small telecommunications businesses, and
section 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.
309(j), which requires the Commission to further opportunities in the
allocation of spectrum-based services for small businesses and
businesses owned by women and minorities.\1\ The deadlines to file
comments and reply comments were originally set as July 22, 2004, and
August 6, 2004, respectively.\2\ At the request of the Minority Media
and Telecommunications Council (``MMTC''), the Bureau extended the
comment deadline to September 10, 2004, and the reply comment deadline
to October 8, 2004.\3\
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\1\ 69 FR 34672, June 22, 2004.
\2\ Comment and Reply Comment Dates Set for Comments on Ways to
Further Section 257 Mandate and to Build on Earlier Studies, Public
Notice, MB Docket No. 04-228, DA 04-1758 (MB June 22, 2004).
\3\ 69 FR 42996, July 19, 2004.
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MMTC now requests that these deadlines be further extended to
October 10, 2004, for comments and to November 8, 2004, for reply
comments.\4\ MMTC states that the three consultants it has engaged to
assist with MMTC's comments need more time to complete their research
and analyses, as the task has proved more complex than originally
believed. Given the complexity of the legal issues involved, the
heightened constitutional standards that apply, and our consequent
interest in obtaining a rigorous and comprehensive analysis, we believe
that granting MMTC's request for more time will serve the public
interest. The new deadline to file comments will be October 12, 2004,
and the new deadline to file reply comments will be November 8,
2004.\5\
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\4\ MMTC Motion for Further Extension of Time (Sept. 7, 2004).
\5\ We are extending the comment deadline to October 12, 2004,
because the date requested by MMTC, October 10, 2004, is a Sunday,
and October 11, 2004, is a Federal holiday.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas L. Horan,
Legal Advisor, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 04-20904 Filed 9-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P