PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 15-1124
Released: October 2, 2015
Comment Deadlines Set for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 
Implementation of Section 103 of the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014
Totality of the Circumstances Test
MB Docket No. 15-216
Comment Deadline:  December 1, 2015
Reply Comment Deadline:  December 31, 2015
On September 2, 2015, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the above 
captioned proceeding that seeks comment on potential updates to the “totality of the circumstances test” 
for evaluating whether broadcast stations and multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) 
are negotiating for retransmission consent in good faith.
1
The NPRM seeks comment generally on the 
totality of the circumstances test, including whether and how the Commission should update that test.  
The NPRM also seeks comment on whether there are specific practices that the Commission should 
identify as evidencing bad faith under the totality of the circumstances test.  
The Commission set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 60 and 90 days, 
respectively, after publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.
2
  A summary of the NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2015.
3
  Thus, comments must be submitted no later than 
December 1, 2015.  Reply comments must be submitted no later than December 31, 2015.  Commenters 
must follow the filing instructions provided in paragraph 24 of the NPRM.
4
  The NPRM is also available 
on the Commission’s website.
5
People with Disabilities:  To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
                                                     
1
See Implementation of Section 103 of the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, Totality of the Circumstances Test, 
MB Docket No. 15-216, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 15-109 (rel. Sept. 2, 2015) (“NPRM”).
2
See NPRM at 1.
3
See https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/10/02/2015-24843/implementation-of-section-103-of-the-stela-
reauthorization-act-of-2014-totality-of-the-circumstances. 
4
See NPRM at ¶ 24.  
5
See https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-109A1.doc.
2For further information about this proceeding, contact Diana Sokolow or Raelynn Remy, Policy 
Division, Media Bureau, 202-418-2120.
-FCC-