PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 11-506 Released: March 16, 2011 Media Bureau Announces Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Matter of Policies to Promote Rural Radio Service and to Streamline Allotment and Assignment Procedures Published in Federal Register March 16, 2011 Second Further NPRM Comment Date: April 15, 2011 Second Further NPRM Reply Comment Date: May 16, 2011 On March 3, 2011, the Commission adopted and released a Second Report and Order, First Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Matter of Policies to Promote Rural Radio Service and to Streamline Allotment and Assignment Procedures.1 The Rural Radio Second FNPRM was released March 3, 2011. In the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making (“Second FNPRM”), the Commission sought comment on certain procedures to be utilized by federally recognized Native American Tribes and Alaska Native Villages (“Tribes”) seeking commercial FM radio facilities. The Commission proposed the use of threshold qualifications to determine eligibility to compete for FM allotments added to the FM Table of Allotments using the Tribal Priority established by the Commission in the First Report and Order in this proceeding. The Commission also seeks comment on any issues surrounding the use of such a threshold qualifications procedure, including whether non-Tribal applicants should be allowed to bid on such allotments absent Tribal interest. In the Second FNPRM, the Commission also sought further comment on the desirability and feasibility of Tribal auction bidding credits, and requested comment on the financial disadvantages, if any, facing Tribes seeking commercial facilities at auction. The Commission set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days, respectively, after publication of the Rural Radio Second R&O in the Federal Register.2 By this Public Notice, the Media Bureau announces that the Rural Radio Second FNPRM is being published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2011.3 Comments must be submitted no later than Friday, April 15, 2011. Reply Comments must be submitted no later than Monday, May 16, 2011. Commenters 1 MB Docket No. 09-52, Second Report and Order, First Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 11-28 (rel. March 3, 2011) (“Rural Radio Second R&O”). Although the Second Report and Order, First Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making are part of the same Commission document, the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making is being published separately in the Federal Register from the Second Report and Order / First Order on Reconsideration. This is due in part to the fact that the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making is the only portion of the order in which further comment is being sought. 2 See Rural Radio Second R&O at 1, 36 ¶ 71. 3 Policies to Promote Rural Radio Service and to Streamline Allotment and Assignment Procedures, 76 Fed. Reg. 14362 (Mar. 16, 2011) (Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making). should follow the filing instructions provided in paragraphs 70 to 75 of the Rural Radio Second R&O.4 The Rural Radio Second R&O, including the Second FNPRM, is also available on the Commission’s website.5 For additional information on this proceeding, contact Thomas S. Nessinger, Thomas.Nessinger@fcc.gov, or Peter Doyle, Peter.Doyle@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-2700. Press inquiries should be directed to Janice Wise, (202) 418-8165. TTY: (202) 418-7172 or (888) 835-5322. By the Chief, Media Bureau --FCC-- 4 Rural Radio Second R&O at 36-37 ¶¶ 70-75. 5 See http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0303/FCC-11-28A1.doc (Word), http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0303/FCC-11-28A1.pdf (Acrobat).