*Pages 1--2 from  Microsoft Word - 30411*
 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  03-  2671 
 Before  the  Federal  Communications  Commission 
 Washington,  D.  C.  20554 


 In  the  Matter  of 
 2002  Biennial  Regulatory  Review  –  Review  of  the  Commission’s  Broadcast 
 Ownership  Rules  and  Other  Rules  Adopted  Pursuant  to  Section  202  of 
 The  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996 
 Cross-  Ownership  of  Broadcast  Stations  and  Newspapers 


 Rules  and  Policies  Concerning  Multiple  Ownership  of  Radio 
 Broadcast  Stations  in  Local  Markets 
 Definition  of  Radio  Markets 
 Definition  of  Radio  Markets  for  Areas  Not  Located  in  an  Arbitron 
 Survey  Area 


 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 )  ) 


 MB  Docket  No.  02-  277 
 MM  Docket  No.  01-  235 
 MM  Docket  No.  01-  317 


 MM  Docket  No.  00-  244 
 MB  Docket  No.  03-  130 


 ORDER 
 Adopted:  August  15,  2003  Released:  August  15,  2003 
 By  the  Chief,  Media  Bureau: 
 1.  On  July  2,  2003,  the  Commission  released  a  Report  and  Order  and  Notice  of  Proposed  Rule  Making,  completing  its  third  biennial  review  of  its  broadcast  ownership  rules.  1  On  August  11,  2003, 
 the  Diversity  and  Competition  Supporters  (“  Petitioners”)  filed  a  motion  requesting  permission  to  exceed  the  page  limits  for  petitions  for  reconsideration,  as  well  as  oppositions  and  replies  thereto.  2  Petitioners 
 ask  that  we  increase  the  limits  for  petitions  and  oppositions  to  50  pages  for  each  and  the  limits  for  replies  to  20  pages.  3  They  argue  that  the  broadcast  ownership  proceeding  contains  several  interrelated 
 proceedings,  and  they  cannot  discuss  their  points  “coherently  and  thoroughly”  within  the  page  limits 
 1  In  the  Matter  of  2002  Biennial  Regulatory  Review  –  Review  of  the  Commission’s  Broadcast  Ownership  Rules  and 
 Other  Rules  Adopted  Pursuant  to  Section  202  of  the  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996,  Cross-  Ownership  of  Broadcast  Stations  and  Newspapers,  Rules  and  Policies  Concerning  Multiple  Ownership  of  Radio  Broadcast 


 Stations  in  Local  Markets,  Definition  of  Radio  Markets,  and  Definition  of  Radio  Markets  for  Areas  Not  Located  in  An  Arbitron  Survey  Area,  FCC  03-  127,  68  FR  46286-  01,  2003  WL  21785144  (F.  R.)(“  Report  and  Order”).  The 
 item  was  published  in  the  Federal  Register  on  Tuesday,  August  5,  2003.  2 
 Motion  to  Extend  Page  Limits  on  Reconsideration  (“  Motion”),  filed  by  Diversity  and  Competition  Supporters,  Aug.  11,  2003.  The  Commission’s  rules  state  that  petitions  for  reconsideration  and  oppositions  to  petitions  for 


 reconsideration  of  Commission  actions  shall  not  exceed  25  double-  spaced  typewritten  pages,  and  replies  to  oppositions  shall  not  exceed  10  double-  spaced  typewritten  pages.  47  C.  F.  R.  §  1.429  (d),  (f)  and  (g). 
 3  Motion  at  1. 
1
 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  03-  2671 
 2 
 articulated  in  the  rules.  4  They  add  that  the  Commission  has  previously  relaxed  the  page  limitations  when  parties  seek  reconsideration  of  extraordinarily  complex  decisions.  5 
 2.  We  agree  with  Petitioners  that  the  issues  presented  in  this  proceeding  are  both  complex  and  important.  The  Report  and  Order  was  the  culmination  of  the  most  comprehensive  review  of 
 broadcast  ownership  regulation  in  the  agency’s  history.  We  therefore  find  that  the  public  interest  would  be  best  served  by  granting  the  Petitioners’  Motion  in  order  to  assure  a  complete  record  and  thorough 
 treatment  of  all  the  issues  on  reconsideration.  In  this  proceeding,  petitions  for  reconsideration  and  oppositions  to  petitions  for  reconsideration  will  be  limited  to  50  pages  each,  and  replies  to  opposition  to 
 petitions  for  reconsideration  will  be  limited  to  20  pages. 
 3.  Accordingly,  IT  IS  ORDERED  that  Petitioners’  Motion  to  Extend  Page  Limits  on  Reconsideration  in  the  above-  captioned  proceeding  IS  GRANTED. 


 FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION 


 W.  Kenneth  Ferree  Chief,  Media  Bureau 


 4  Id.  at  1-  2. 
 5  Id.  at  2-  3  (citing  Implementation  of  the  Local  Competition  Provisions  in  the  Telecommunications  Act  of  1996,  11 
 FCC  Rcd  11882  (CCB  1996);  Amendment  of  Section  2.106  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  to  Allocate  Spectrum  at  2  GHz  for  Use  by  the  Mobile-  Satellite  Service,  12  FCC  Rcd  6532  (OET  1997)). 
2