Federal Communications Commission	DA-20-1401


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

Fox Corp. Request for Permanent Waiver of Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership Rule

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MB Docket No. 20-378

ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS


Adopted:  November 24, 2020	Released:  November 24, 2020

 
Comment Date:  December 1, 2020 
Reply Comment Date:  December 8, 2020

By the Chief, Media Bureau:

1. On November 13, 2020, the Media Bureau released a Public Notice Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Request for Permanent Waiver of Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership Rule Filed by Fox Corp., Public Notice, MB Docket No. 20-378, DA 20-1350 (rel. Nov. 13, 2020) (“Public Notice”).
 seeking comment on a request for permanent waiver filed by Fox Television Stations, LLC. (Fox).  By its filing, Fox requests that the Media Bureau grant a permanent waiver of the Commission’s newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, 47 C.F.R. § 73.3555(d), in order to allow Fox to continue its common ownership of WWOR-TV, Secaucus, NJ, WNYW(TV), New York, NY, and the New York Post newspaper. Fox Corp. Request for Permanent Waiver of Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership Rule, 47 C.F.R. § 73.3555(d), MB Docket No. 20-378 (filed Oct. 5, 2020) (“Waiver Request”).
  The Public Notice established November 27, 2020 as the initial deadline for filing comments regarding the request, and December 4, 2020 as the initial deadline for filing reply comments. Public Notice at 1. 
  
2. On November 20, 2020, Free Press filed a Motion for Extension of Time (Motion) seeking an indefinite extension of the comment period.  Although the Motion argues generally that the waiver request should not be considered and the comment period suspended indefinitely, it contends that an extension of time is warranted based on the fact that Fox’s waiver request was not accessible in the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) until November 17, 2020. Free Press Motion for Extension of Time, MB Docket No. 20-378, at 2 (filed Nov. 20, 2020) (“Motion”).
  On November 23, 2020, Fox filed an Opposition to the Free Press Motion arguing that Free Press does not claim inability to prepare timely comments Fox Opposition to Motion for Extension of Time, MB Docket No. 20-378, at 2 (filed Nov. 23, 2020).
 and that Free Press had notice of the waiver request “by citing to a publicly available letter issued on November 9, 2020, concerning the waiver request.” Id. at 3. 

3. As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46.
 it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.  However, in this case, we find that Free Press has shown good cause for a limited extension of the deadlines, in that the waiver request was not available in ECFS under MB Docket No. 20-378 until November 17, 2020 in contrast to the Public Notice’s assertion that it was available on November 13, 2020.  We therefore find that a brief extension of time for interested parties to submit comments is appropriate.  To the extent that Free Press’s Motion seeks an indefinite extension of time and suggests that we hold the period for public comment in abeyance, we do not find such action to be warranted and thus reject the request to extend the period for comment indefinitely.
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that the Motion for Extension of Time filed by Free Press is GRANTED in part and otherwise DENIED.
5. IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the date for filing comments on the waiver request IS EXTENDED to December 1, 2020, and the date for filing reply comments on the waiver request IS EXTENDED to December 8, 2020. 
6. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 303(r). 
 and sections 0.204, 0.283 and 1.46 of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 0.204, 0.283 and 1.46.
  
7. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact William Durdach, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau, at William.Durdach@fcc.gov or David Roberts, Video Division, Media Bureau, at David.Roberts@fcc.gov. 
 
					FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



					Michelle M. Carey
					Chief, Media Bureau
					

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