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 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  04-  3657 
 1 
 Before  the  Federal  Communications  Commission 
 Washington,  D.  C.  20554 


 In  the  Matter  of: 
 Broadcast  Localism 


 )  ) 
 )  ) 
 ) 
 MB  Docket  No.  04-  233 


 ORDER 
 Adopted:  November  19,  2004  Released:  November  22,  2004 
 Reply  Comment  Date:  January  3,  2005 
 By  the  Deputy  Chief,  Media  Bureau: 
 1.  By  a  Notice  of  Inquiry  (“  NOI”),  FCC  04-  129,  released  July  1,  2004,  the  Commission  initiated  the  above-  captioned  proceeding,  seeking  comment  from  the  public  on  how  broadcasters  are 
 serving  the  interests  and  needs  of  their  communities;  whether  the  Commission  needs  to  adopt  new  policies,  practices,  or  rules  designed  to  promote  localism  in  broadcast  television  and  radio;  and  what  those 
 policies,  practices,  or  rules  should  be.  1  The  NOI  called  for  comments  by  September  1,  2004,  and  reply  comments  by  October  1,  2004.  Pursuant  to  several  parties’  request,  the  Commission  --  finding  good 
 cause  to  grant  the  requests  --  extended  the  comment  and  reply  comment  deadlines  to  November  1,  2004  and  December  1,  2004,  respectively.  2 


 2.  The  National  Association  of  Broadcasters  (“  NAB”)  requests  an  extension  of  the  deadline  for  filing  reply  comments  to  January  1,  2005.  3  NAB  contends  that  the  request  is  justified,  given  the 
 volume  of  initial  comments  filed  in  the  proceeding,  which  total  over  80,000.  4  NAB  states  it  needs  the  additional  time  to  collect  and  analyze  the  information  provided  in  the  comments.  5 


 3.  We  find  that  good  cause  for  an  extension  of  the  filing  date  for  reply  comments  has  been  shown.  We  will  extend  the  deadline  for  filing  reply  comments  to  Monday,  January  3,  2005.  This 
 additional  time  should  provide  all  parties  with  adequate  time  for  the  preparation  of  pleadings.  Further,  given  the  array  of  issues  and  the  number  of  comments  filed,  this  extension  will  result  in  a  more 


 1  See  Broadcast  Localism,  19  FCC  Rcd  12,425  (2004)  (“  Broadcast  Localism  NOI”). 
 2  See  Broadcast  Localism,  19  FCC  Rcd  14,849  (MB  2004)  (“  Broadcast  Localism  Extension  Request”). 
 3  See  NAB’s  Request  for  Extension  of  Time  filed  in  MB  Docket  No.  04-  233  (filed  Nov.  17,  2004). 
 4  See  id.  at  1. 


 5  See  id. 
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 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  04-  3657 
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 comprehensive  factual  record.  At  the  same  time,  the  proceeding  will  not  be  unduly  delayed  by  granting  the  extension  requests. 
 4.  Accordingly,  IT  IS  ORDERED  that,  pursuant  to  Sections  4(  i),  4(  j),  and  5(  c)  of  the  Communications  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  47  U.  S.  C.  §§  154(  i),  154(  j),  and  155(  c),  and  also  Sections 
 0.61,  0.283,  and  1.46  of  the  Commission’s  rules,  47  C.  F.  R.  §§  0.61,  0.283,  and  1.46,  the  request  for  extension  of  time  filed  by  the  National  Association  of  Broadcasters  IS  GRANTED.  The  date  for  filing 
 reply  comments  in  MB  Docket  No.  04-  233  is  extended  until  January  3,  2005. 


 FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION 
 Robert  H.  Ratcliffe  Deputy  Chief,  Media  Bureau 
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