Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-576

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

In the Matter of

Amendment of Section 74.1231(i) of the Commission’s Rules on FM Broadcast Booster Stations

Modernization of Media Initiative

Amendment of Section 74.1231(i) of the Commission’s Rules on FM Broadcast Booster Stations
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MB Docket No. 20-401



MB Docket No. 17-105

RM-11854



ORDER

Adopted:  May 24, 2022	Released:  May 24, 2022


By the Chief, Media Bureau:

1. On April 18, 2022, the Media Bureau (Bureau) released a Public Notice seeking public comment on test reports and other filings submitted after the March 12, 2021, close of the comment period in this proceeding. Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Recent Filings Concerning Use of FM Boosters for Geo-Targeted Content, MB Dkt. Nos. 20-401, 17-105, Public Notice, DA 22-429 (2022) (Public Notice).
  The Public Notice set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 45 days, respectively, after publication of the Public Notice in the Federal Register.  The Public Notice was published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2022. Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Recent Filings Concerning Use of FM Boosters for Geo-Targeted Content, 87 Fed. Reg. 26758 (May 5, 2022).
  The Bureau released an additional Public Notice on that date announcing the comment date of June 6, 2022, and the reply comment date of June 21, 2022. Comment and Reply Comment Dates Set for Recent Filings Concerning Use of FM Boosters for Geo-Targeted Content, MB Dkt. Nos. 20-401, 17-105, Public Notice, DA 22-492 (2022).

2. On May 18, 2022, National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed a joint request for a two-week extension of these filing deadlines. NPR and NAB Request for Extension of Time, MB Dkt. Nos. 20-401, 17-105 (filed May 18, 2022) (Extension Request).
  The Extension Request asserts that NPR’s and NAB’s technical experts require additional time to analyze the voluminous technical material that GeoBroadcast Solutions LLC (GeoBroadcast) filed in this proceeding and that problems locating information in the Commission’s electronic databases have slowed their review. Id.
  On May 19, 2022, GeoBroadcast filed an Opposition to Request for Extension of Time. GeoBroadcast Opposition to Request for Extension of Time, MB Dkt. Nos. 20-401, 17-105 (filed May 19, 2022) (Opposition).
  GeoBroadcast notes that it filed its most recent test report on March 30, 2022, and that the public has had ample opportunity to analyze its test results. Id. at 1.

3. We find NPR and NAB have not shown good cause in the Extension Request for extending the comment deadlines.  It is the Commission’s general policy that requests for extension of time will not be routinely granted. 47 CFR § 1.46(a).
  We agree with GeoBroadcast that the public interest will be best served by expeditious review of the GeoBroadcast test reports and other material in the record.
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 0.61, 0.283, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.61, 0.283, and 1.46, the Request for Extension of Time is denied.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


						Holly Saurer
Chief, Media Bureau