*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 42010* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 04- 2906 September 8, 2004 MB Docket No. 04- 228 DEADLINES FURTHER EXTENDED FOR COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS ON WAYS TO FURTHER SECTION 257 MANDATE AND TO BUILD ON EARLIER STUDIES Comment Date: October 12, 2004 Reply Comment Date: November 8, 2004 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 1 Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Ways to Further Section 257 Mandate and to Build on Earlier Studies, Public Notice, MB Docket No. 04- 228, DA 04- 1690 (MB June 15, 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 Deadlines Extended for Comments and Reply Comments on Ways to Further Section 257 Mandate and to Build on Earlier Studies, Public Notice, MB Docket No. 04- 228, DA 04- 2085 (MB July 12, 2004). 1 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 By the Chief, Media Bureau - FCC - 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. 2