*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 23033.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 02- 3173 November 14, 2002 ECHOSTAR – DIRECTV MERGER (CS Docket No. 01- 348) FEES FOR PARTICIPATING IN HEARING The Commission’s Order designating the EchoStar – DirecTV merger for hearing 1 states that the written appearances of the entities that were made parties to the proceeding must be accompanied by the fee specified in Section 1.1107 of the Commission’s Rules. Section 1.1107 does not, however, provide for a fee for this type of hearing. 2 Accordingly, no fee is due. 1 In the Matter of Application of EchoStar Communications Corporation, (a Nevada Corporation), General Motors Corporation, and Hughes Electronics Corporation (Delaware Corporations) (Transferors) and EchoStar Communications Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) (Transferee), CS Docket No. 01- 348, Hearing Designation Order, FCC 02- 284 ¶ 297 (Oct. 18, 2002). 2 Section 1.1107 specifies a fee for a hearing in the DBS service in two instances: new and major/ minor change, comparative construction permit hearings, and comparative license renewal hearings. Neither applies here. Further, in establishing the fee program, the Commission stated that with respect to fees for hearings, “we will not assess a fee in the following situations: individuals or organizations named parties (47 C. F. R. §1. 221); intervenors (47 C. F. R. §1.223); non- parties who wish to appear and give evidence (47 C. F. R. §1.225) . . . .” Establishment of a Fee Collection Program to Implement the Provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Report and Order, 2 FCC Rcd 947, 966 ¶ 143, 971 ¶ 191, 985 n. 134 (1987). Accordingly, even if Section 1.1107 specified a fee, it would not apply to those entities named as parties in paragraph 297 of the Hearing Designation Order. 1