Federal Communications Commission DA 10-1402 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company and NBC Universal, Inc. For Consent to Assign Licenses or Transfer Control of Licensees ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) MB Docket No. 10-56 ORDER Adopted: July 29, 2010 Released: July 29, 2010 By the Chief, Media Bureau: 1. On March 18, 2010, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking comment on the applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company, and NBC Universal, Inc. (collectively, the “Applicants”) for consent to assign and transfer control of certain FCC licenses.1 The March 18th Public Notice established the filing deadlines for pleadings in that matter, beginning with a May 3, 2010 deadline for the filing of comments and petitions to deny.2 The Media Bureau subsequently suspended its review of the transaction, pending the Applicants’ submission of two additional economic reports conducted at the request of Commission staff.3 Once the Applicants had filed those reports, the Commission revised the pleading schedule to specify the current deadlines: June 21, 2010 for filing comments and petitions to deny; July 21, 2010 for comments and oppositions; and August 5, 2010 for replies.4 2. On July 23, 2010, the American Cable Association (“ACA”) filed a Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses/Oppositions, asking the Commission to grant a two-week extension of the August 5, 2010 deadline for filing replies.5 ACA argues that an extension is needed because the 1 Commission Seeks Comment on Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company and NBC Universal, Inc. for Consent to Assign and Transfer Control of FCC Licensees, Public Notice, 25 FCC Rcd 2651 (2010) (“March 18th Public Notice”). 2 The original deadline for filing responses to comments and oppositions to petitions was June 2, 2010, and the deadline for filing replies to responses or oppositions was June 17, 2010. See March 18th Public Notice at 2653. On March 26, 2010, the Media Bureau denied a request for an extension of these deadlines. Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company and NBC Universal, Inc. for Consent to Assign Licenses or Transfer Control of Licensees, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 3101 (MB 2010). 3 Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company and NBC Universal, Inc. for Consent to Assign Licenses or Transfer Control of Licensees, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 3802 (MB 2010). 4 Commission Announces Revised Pleading Schedule for Its Review of Applications of Comcast Corporation, General Electric Company, and NBC Universal, Inc., to Assign and Transfer Control of FCC Licenses, Public Notice, 25 FCC Rcd 4407 (2010) (“May 5th Public Notice”). 5 American Cable Association Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses/Oppositions (July 23, 2010) (“ACA Motion”) at 1. Federal Communications Commission DA 10-1402 2 current two-week timeframe is insufficient to review the voluminous material submitted by the Applicants in their July 21, 2010 Opposition to Petitions to Deny and Response to Comments (the “Applicants’ Opposition”).6 ACA asserts that this time pressure is compounded by the fact that it did not obtain access to the unredacted version of the Applicants’ Opposition on the filing deadline. Finally, ACA notes that its economic consultant sustained injuries in a recent accident and is scheduled to undergo surgery during the current reply period.7 3. On July 26, 2010, the Fair Access to Content & Telecommunications Coalition, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, and the Western Telecommunications Alliance (collectively, the “FACT Movants”) jointly filed a Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses and Oppositions.8 The FACT Movants “support and adopt the reasons for” the ACA Motion, similarly arguing that, given the volume of the Applicants’ Opposition and the delay in their obtaining access to it, additional time is required for them to fairly review and analyze the filing.9 4. By letter dated July 28, 2010, the Applicants indicated that they “do not oppose the requested two-week extension” sought by ACA and the FACT Movants.10 5. We agree with ACA and the FACT Movants that a two-week extension of time to submit replies to the responses and oppositions filed in the captioned proceeding, including that of the Applicants, is appropriate under these circumstances. Grant of such an extension will enable interested parties to fully review the filings and submit their views in their replies, thus adding to the record that will assist the Commission in considering and resolving many of the issues raised in this proceeding in a manner that will be consistent with the public interest. 6. Accordingly, the Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses/Oppositions filed by the American Cable Association and the Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses and Oppositions jointly filed by the Fair Access to Content & Telecommunications Coalition, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, and the Western Telecommunications Alliance in the above-captioned matter are hereby GRANTED. The new deadline for filing replies to the responses and oppositions is August 19, 2010. This action is taken pursuant to authority delegated by Section 0.283 of the Commission’s Rules.11 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION William T. Lake Chief, Media Bureau 6 Id. at 2. 7 Id. 8 Motion for Extension of Time to File Replies to Responses and Oppositions of the Fair Access to Content & Telecommunications Coalition, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, and the Western Telecommunications Alliance (July 26, 2010). 9 Id. at 2. 10 Letter from Michael H. Hammer, Esquire, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, A Richard Metzger, Jr., Esquire, Lawler, Metzger, Keeney & Logan, LLC, and David H. Solomon, Esquire, Wilkinson, Barker Knauer, LLP, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (July 28, 2010). 11 47 C.F.R. § 0.283.