Federal Communications Commission
Before the DA 96-1929 
Federal Communications Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of )
)
Advanced Television Systems )
and Their Impact upon the ) MM Docket No. 87-268 
Existing Television Broadcast ) 
Service )
ORDER EXTENDING TIME FOR FILING REPLY COMMENTS 
Released: November 20, 1996
Comment Date: November 22,1996 
Reply Comment Date: January 10, 1997
By the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology:
1. On July 25, 1996, the Commission adopted a Sixth Further Notice of Proposed 
Rule Making (Sixth Further Notice) in MM Docket No. 87-268,11 FCC Red 10968 (1996), that 
proposed policies for developing the initial channel allotments for digital TV (DTV) service, 
proposed procedures ioi assigning DTV allotments, and plans for spectrum recovery. The Sixth 
Further Notice also contains a draft DTV Table of Allotments. Comments and reply comments 
responding to the Sixth Further Notice are due November 22, 1996, and December 23, 1996, 
respectively.
2. On November 13, 1996, Cohen, Dippell and Everist (CDE), a consulting 
engineering firm, submitted a request seeking to extend the dates for filing comments and reply 
comments in response to the Sixth Further Notice. It asks that the comment and reply dates be 
extended 60 days. CDE argues that this additional time is needed to study the multiple technical 
issues related to DTV operation, including propagation, protection ratios to and from other radio 
services, out-of band emissions, use of channel 6, alternative allotment possibilities, etc. that are 
addressed in the Sixth Further Notice.
3. A number of parties representing broadcast interests, including ABC, ALTV, APTS, 
CBS, Chris Craft, MSTV NAB, NBC PBS, and Tribune (Broadcasters) submitted a joint 
opposition to CDE's request for an extension of time. Broadcasters submit that it is important 
that the Commission adopt a DTV Table as soon as possible. They argue this is the only way 
to ensure that the long-awaited DTV service is licensed in the very near future. They observe 
that the DTV transmission standard and planning factors used to allot and assign DTV channels 
have been under study for nine years. Broadcasters further state, however, that they recognize
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Federal Communications Commission
the importance of providing an opportunity to fully study and to comment meaningfully on the 
Sixth Further Notice. They therefore urge that instead of extending the time in which to file all 
comments, the Commission should: 1) accept late filed comments for a reasonable period of 
time, and 2) extend the time for filing reply comments to January 10,1996. Broadcasters submit 
that, with the approach of the holiday season, this approach should give all parties an opportunity 
to prepare fully developed comments.
4. In a letter of November 19, 1996, CDE stated that after reviewing the Broadcasters 
opposition filing, it now intends to offer comments that advance an alternative procedure that 
would provide flexibility in resolving the numerous technical issues that impact DTV allotments. 
CDE therefore amended its earlier request to support the comment date plan suggested by the 
Broadcasters.
5. We agree with the Broadcasters that it is desirable to complete our action adopting an 
initial DTV Table of Allotments as soon as possible. We find that the alternative plan for filing 
comments and reply comments suggested by the Broadcasters, rather than that originally 
suggested by CDE, is appropriate in the interests of developing a complete record on the DTV 
channel allotment matter and of accommodating the demands of the holiday season. We therefore 
are extending the date for filing reply comments to January 10,1997. In addition, we will accept 
late-filed comments that are filed within a reasonable period of time after the November 22, 
1996, due date for comments.
6. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Broadcasters' request that we accept late-filed 
comments for a reasonable period of time and that we provide additional time for the filing of 
reply comments, as supported by CDE in its supplemental filing, IS GRANTED as indicated 
herein. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the time for filing reply comments relating to the Sixth 
Further Notice IS EXTENDED to January 10, 1997. This action is taken pursuant to authority 
found hi Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
§§ 154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.31, 0.241 and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR §§ 
0.31, 0.241 and 1.46.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Richard M. Smith
Chief
Office of Engineering and Technology
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