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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  445  12th  STREET,  S.  W.  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  20554  DA  05-  133  News  media  information  202/  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202/  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov 
 MEDIA  BUREAU  ACTION  January  19,  2005 
 Media  Bureau  Sets  Expedited  Pleading  Cycle  in  Retransmission  Consent  Complaint  filed  by  Horry  Telephone  Cooperative,  Inc.  against  GE  Media,  Inc.,  Licensee  of  Television  Station  WFXB 


 Horry  Telephone  Cooperative,  Inc.  (“  HTC”)  filed  an  Emergency  Complaint  pursuant  to  Section  325  of  the  Communications  Act  and  Sections  76.64  and  76.  65  of  the  Commission’s  rules  alleging  that  GE 
 Media,  Inc.  (“  GE  Media”),  licensee  of  television  broadcast  station  WFXB  (Myrtle  Beach,  SC),  violated  the  prohibition  on  exclusive  retransmission  consent  agreements  as  well  as  the  statutory  obligation  to 
 negotiate  in  good  faith  for  retransmission  consent  of  WFXB’s  digital  television  (“  DTV”)  signal.  HTC  alleges  that  GE  Media  has  entered  into  a  prohibited  exclusive  retransmission  consent  agreement  with  a 
 competing  cable  system  for  carriage  of  WFXB’s  DTV  signal.  HTC  asserts  that  WFXB  has  begun  airing  promotions  on  its  analog  signal  that  WFXB’s  coverage  of  high  profile  events,  such  as  the  Super  Bowl  and 
 the  Daytona  500,  would  be  available  in  high  definition  (“  HD”)  DTV  only  on  the  competing  cable  system.  HTC  requests  expedited  action  on  its  complaint. 


 Because  of  the  significance  and  time  sensitive  nature  of  HTC’s  allegations,  we  see  good  cause  to  establish  an  accelerated  pleading  cycle  in  this  matter  so  that  it  can  be  resolved  in  an  expedited  manner. 
 Accordingly,  GE  Media’s  response  is  due  on  or  before  Monday  January  24,  2005.  HTC’s  reply,  if  necessary,  is  due  on  or  before  Wednesday,  January  26,  2005. 


 Media  Contact:  Rebecca  Fisher  at  (202)  418-  2359.  Media  Bureau  Contact:  Steven  Broeckaert  at  (202)  418-  1075. 
 TTY:  (202)  418-  7172. 


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