Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1523 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150-2162 and 2500-2690 MHz Bands Part 1 of the Commission's Rules - Further Competitive Bidding Procedures Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commission's Rules With Regard to Licensing in the Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service for the Gulf of Mexico ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) WT Docket No. 03-66 RM-10586 WT Docket No. 03-67 WT Docket No. 02-68 RM-9718 ORDER Adopted: June 26, 2008 Released: June 26, 2008 By the Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: 1. On March 20, 2008, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the above-captioned proceedings.1 Initial comments were due July 7, 2008, and reply comments were due on or before August 6, 2008.2 2. On June 13, 2008, National EBS Association (“NEBSA”)3 and the Catholic Television Network (“CTN”) filed a motion for extension of time to extend by 75 days the dates for filing comments and reply comments in the proceeding.4 NEBSA and CTN state that the comment dates “fall in the middle of the summer recess period for virtually all schools, colleges and universities, making it difficult for 1Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150-2162 and 2500-2690 MHz Bands, WT Docket No. 03-66, Part 1 of the Commission's Rules - Further Competitive Bidding Procedures, WT Docket No. 03-67, Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commission's Rules With Regard to Licensing in the Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service for the Gulf of Mexico, WT Docket No. 02-68, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 5992 (2008). 2 See 73 Fed. Reg. 26067 (published May 8, 2008). 3 The National EBS Association was formerly known as the National ITFS Association (“NIA”). 4 National EBS Association and the Catholic Television Network, Motion For Extension of Time, WT Docket Nos. 03-66, 03-67 and 02-68 (filed Jun. 13, 2008) (Extension Request). Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1523 2 NEBSA, CTN, EBS licensees and other educators to coordinate their response to the important issues raised in this proceeding.”5 They also state that an “extension will promote the Commission’s goal of encouraging deployment of wireless broadband networks over EBS and BRS spectrum, by facilitating a consensus among interested parties on the relevant issues.”6 The Wireless Communications Association International, Inc. supports this request.7 No party has opposed the request. 3. It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time are not routinely granted.8 Such extensions may be warranted when, among other reasons, the additional time will serve the public interest. In the present instance, we grant NEBSA and CTN’s motion for extension of time by extending by 75 days the deadlines to file comments and reply comments in the proceeding. We find that providing a limited extension will serve the public interest by allowing parties to discuss the complex issues at stake, develop consensus approaches where possible, and prepare thorough comments while ensuring that the proceeding is expeditiously resolved. 4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Section 1.46 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.46, that the Motion for Extension of Time filed by National EBS Association and the Catholic Television Network on June 13, 2008 IS GRANTED, and the time for filing comments in this proceeding IS EXTENDED TO September 22, 2008, and the time for filing reply comments in this proceeding is EXTENDED TO October 22, 2008. 5. This actions is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Joel D. Taubenblatt Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 5 Extension Request at 1-2. 6 Id. at 2. 7 See Letter from Paul J. Sindebrand, Esq. Counsel to the Wireless Communications Association International, Inc. to Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (filed Jun. 16, 2008). 8 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).