*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 10695.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1730 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Establishment of a Class A Television Service ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) MM Docket No. 00- 10 ORDER Adopted: August 2, 2001 Released: August 6, 2001 By the Chief, Mass Media Bureau: 1. On April 13, 2001, the Commission released a Reconsideration Order in the above- captioned proceeding. 1 That Order generally affirmed revisions made to the Commission’s Rules in a Report and Order released in April 2000, in which the Commission accorded Class A status to certain low power television stations, as directed by Congress in the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 (CBPA). Pursuant to the CBPA and the Commission’s rules, a low power television licensee may convert the secondary status of its station to the new Class A status, provided it can satisfy certain statutorily-established criteria. 2. On December 5, 2000, the Commission released a Public Notice extending the filing deadline for Class A applications until 90 days after release of the Reconsideration Order “in order to give eligible LPTV licensees adequate time to prepare and file their Class A applications consistent with any clarifications or rule changes that may be adopted on reconsideration.” 2 Because the Reconsideration Order was released on April 13, 2001, qualified LPTV stations had until July 12, 2001 to file their Class A applications. 1 In the Matter of Establishment of a Class A Television Service, MM Docket No. 00- 10, Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 6355 (2000)( Report and Order), recon., Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 01- 123 (rel. April 13, 2001)( Reconsideration Order). 2 Public Notice, “Commission Extends Filing Deadline for Class A License Applications,” DA 00- 2743 (rel. December 5, 2000). 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1730 2 3. Three letters requesting that the July 12, 2001 filing deadline be extended were received. 3 We deny these requests. The petitioners claim, in general terms, that Class A- eligible applicants are confused by the Commission’s rules and filing procedures, which, they contend, could lead to the filing of erroneous applications. 4 IBN specifically asserts that the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA) has received no written response from the Commission to its request for clarification of certain issues, made “on or about” July 3, 2001. 5 CBA’s concerns, however, were addressed in a teleconference between Commission staff and CBA’s attorney on July 6. 6 Commission staff members are available to answer questions from applicants, and an appeals process exists should an applicant err in filing. 4. IBN also contends that a petition for review of the Reconsideration Order has been filed, and asks that the filing deadline be extended until “judicial review has been completed and is final and non-appealable.” 7 IBN, essentially, requests a stay of the Commission’s orders in the Class A proceeding. The Commission determines whether to grant the extraordinary remedy of stay of an order under well settled principles. To be granted a stay, IBN must demonstrate that: (1) it will suffer irreparable harm if a stay is not granted; (2) it is likely to prevail on the merits of an appeal; (3) other interested parties will not be harmed if the stay is granted; and (4) a stay will not harm the public interest. 8 IBN has not met its burden, nor has it attempted to address these criteria. 5. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, IT IS ORDERED that the requests to extend time, filed by International Broadcasting Network on July 9, 2001, Robert E. Kelly on July 10, 2001, and Third Coast Broadcasting on July 9, 2001, ARE DENIED. 6. This action is taken pursuant to authority delegated by Section 0.283 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 0.283. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Roy J. Stewart Chief, Mass Media Bureau 3 International Broadcasting Network (IBN), filed July 9, 2001; Robert E. Kelly (Kelly), filed July 10, 2001; Third Coast Broadcasting (Third Coast), filed July 9, 2001. Third Coast’s request concerns only out- of- core applicants. 4 IBN Petition at 1- 2; Kelly Petition at 1- 2; Third Coast at 1- 2. 5 IBN Petition at 1. 6 The teleconference took place on July 6, 2001. Participants included Peter Tannenwald, Counsel for CBA, and Barbara Kreisman, Chief, Video Services Division, James Brown, Deputy Chief, Video Services Division, and Hossein Hoshemzadeh, Video Services Division, all of the Mass Media Bureau. 7 IBN Petition at 2 (citing Robert E. Kelly v. Federal Communications Commission, filed on or about June 28, 2001 with the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit). 8 Virginia Petroleum Jobbers Ass’n v. FPC, 259 F. 2d 921, 925 (D. C. Cir. 1958), see also Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Comm’n v. Holiday Tours, 559 F. 2d 841, 843 (D. C. Cir. 1977). 2