Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, In the Matter of Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters, 50380-50382 [E6-14157]
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50380
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Proposed Rules
information on the rulemaking process,
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of the Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rule Making in WT Docket
No. 05–211, 71 FR 35594, June 21, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Carter, Auctions and Spectrum
Access Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau at (202)
418–0660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Order,
DA 06–1617, released on August 10,
2006. The complete text of the Order is
available for public inspection and
copying from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday or from 8
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II,
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC 20554. The Order and
related Commission documents may
also be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor,
Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI),
Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room
CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554,
telephone 202–488–5300, facsimile
202–488–5563, or you may contact BCPI
at its Web site: https://
www.BCPIWEB.com. When ordering
documents from BCPI please provide
the appropriate FCC document number,
for example, DA 06–1617. The Order
and related documents are also available
on the Internet at the Commission’s Web
site: https://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions.
1. On July 25, 2006, a motion was
filed with the Commission requesting an
extension of time for submitting
comments and reply comments in
response to the Second Further Notice
of Proposed Rule Making in WT Docket
No. 05–211, 71 FR 35594, June 21, 2006.
The Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rule Making seeks public comment on
a variety of measures to ensure that the
recipients of designated entity benefits
are limited to those entities and for
those purposes Congress intended.
Interested parties previously had until
August 21, 2006, for filing comments
and September 19, 2006, for filing reply
comments.
2. It is the general policy of the
Commission that extensions of time
shall not be routinely granted.
Nevertheless, the Commission finds that
in this instance a limited extension of
time will facilitate the development of
a complete record in response to the
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule
Making. The Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rule Making seeks public
comment on how to ensure that the
recipients of designated entity benefits
are limited to those entities and for
those purposes Congress intended.
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Thus, the comments provided by
designated entities will be a vital part of
the record. Designated entities include
small businesses, some of whom have
just finished preparing and filing
applications to participate in Auction
No. 66 and arranging financing for the
necessary upfront payments. The
Commission believes that providing
additional time will facilitate comments
in response to the Second Further
Notice of Proposed Rule Making by
designated entities participating in
Auction No. 66. The Commission also
finds that providing limited additional
time will not unduly delay resolution of
the proceeding. Accordingly, the
Commission extends the deadlines for
filing comments and reply comments in
response to the Second Further Notice
of Proposed Rule Making until
September 20, 2006 and October 20,
2006, respectively.
3. Accordingly, it is ordered that,
pursuant to sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j),
and sections 0.131, 0.331, and 1.46 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 0.131,
0.331, and 1.46, the deadline for filing
comments in response to the Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making
is extended to September 20, 2006, and
the deadline for filing reply comments
is extended to October 20, 2006.
Federal Communications Commission.
Margaret Wiener,
Chief, Auction Spectrum and Access Division,
WTB.
[FR Doc. E6–14161 Filed 8–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 73 and 76
[FCC 06–33]
Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rule Making, In the Matter of
Children’s Television Obligations of
Digital Television Broadcasters
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; correction.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: On March 27, 2006 (71 FR
15145), the Commission published
proposed rules in the Second Further
Notice which sought public comment
on a joint proposal filed by several
broadcast and programming entities and
children’s television advocates
proposing revisions to previously
adopted requirements of television
licensees and cable operators with
respect to children’s television
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programming. The Commission
inadvertently omitted the Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, which
was part of the item adopted by the
Commission, in the Federal Register
publication. This document corrects the
Federal Register as it appeared.
DATES: Comments on the Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis only are
due September 1, 2006. Reply
comments are due September 8, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by MM Docket No. 00–167, by
any of the following methods:
b Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
b Federal Communications
Commission’s Web site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
b E-mail: ecfs@fcc.gov. Include the
following words in the body of the
message, ‘‘get form.’’ A sample form and
directions will be sent in response.
b Mail: Commercial overnight mail
(other than U.S. Postal Service Express
Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to
9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol
Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service
first-class, Express, and Priority mail
should be addressed to 445 12th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20554.
b People with Disabilities: Contact
the FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432.
For detailed instructions for
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
Matthews, Policy Division, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, (202) 418–2154.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following
is the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act
analysis to be associated with the
document proposing to amend parts 73
and 76 of the Commission’s rules that
was published in the Federal Register
on March 27, 2006 (71 FR 15145).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.
As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (the
‘‘RFA’’), the Commission has prepared
this Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (‘‘IRFA’’) of the possible
significant economic impact of the
policies and rules proposed in the
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule
Making (‘‘Notice’’) on a substantial
number of small entities. Written public
comments are requested on this IRFA
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Proposed Rules
only. Comments must be identified as
responses to the IRFA and must be filed
by the deadlines for comments
indicated on the first page of this
document. The Commission has sent a
copy of the Notice, including this IRFA,
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration
(‘‘SBA’’). In addition, the Notice has
been published in the Federal Register.
Need for, and Objectives of, the
Proposed Rules. Our goal in
commencing this proceeding is to
determine whether, and to what extent,
the Commission should adopt proposed
recommendations for modification of
rules previously adopted by the
Commission in the above-captioned
proceeding. On September 9, 2004, the
Commission adopted a Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rule Making, 70 FR 25 (January 3, 2005)
(‘‘Order’’) in this proceeding. The rules
in the Order pertain to the obligation of
television licensees to provide
educational programming for children
and the requirement that television
licensees protect children from
excessive and inappropriate commercial
messages. Among other things, the
Order adopted rules regarding the use of
Web site addresses during children’s
programming, revised the definition of
commercial matter, placed a limit on the
number of preemptions of core
children’s programming, and created
children’s programming requirements
for those multicasting free video
programming streams. In this
proceeding, we will evaluate proposed
modifications to these rules as
presented in a Joint Proposal filed by
representatives of broadcast and cable
industries and public interest groups
interested in children’s television. First,
the Joint Proposal suggests
modifications pertaining to the display
of Web sites during core children’s
programming. Second, the Joint
Proposal recommends further revisions
to the definition of commercial matter.
Third, the Joint Proposal suggests that
the Commission lift its numerical limits
on children’s programming
preemptions. Finally, the Joint Proposal
recommends clarifications to the
children’s programming requirements
for those multicasting free video
programming streams.
Legal Basis. The authority for the
action proposed in this rulemaking is
contained in Sections 4(i) & (j), 303, 307,
309 and 336 of the Communications Act
of 1934 as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) &
(j), 303, 307, 309 and 336.
Description and Estimate of the
Number of Small Entities to Which the
Proposed Rules Will Apply. The RFA
directs agencies to provide a description
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of, and where feasible, an estimate of
the number of small entities that may be
affected by the proposed rules, if
adopted. The RFA generally defines the
term ‘‘small entity’’ as having the same
meaning as the terms ‘‘small business,’’
‘‘small organization,’’ and ‘‘small
governmental jurisdiction.’’ In addition,
the term ‘‘small business’’ has the same
meaning as the term ‘‘small business
concern’’ under the Small Business Act.
A ‘‘small business concern’’ is one
which: (1) Is independently owned and
operated; (2) is not dominant in its field
of operation; and (3) satisfies any
additional criteria established by the
Small Business Administration
(‘‘SBA’’).
Television Broadcasting. The
proposed rules and policies apply to
television broadcast licensees, and
potential licensees of television service.
The SBA defines a television broadcast
station as a small business if such
station has no more than $12 million in
annual receipts. Business concerns
included in this industry are those
‘‘primarily engaged in broadcasting
images together with sound.’’ According
to Commission staff review of the BIA
Publications, Inc. Master Access
Television Analyzer Database (BIA) on
October 18, 2005, about 873 of the 1,307
commercial television stations (or about
67 percent) have revenues of $12
million or less and thus qualify as small
entities under the SBA definition. We
note, however, that in assessing whether
a business concern qualifies as small
under the above definition, business
(control) affiliations must be included.
Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates
the number of small entities that might
be affected by our action, because the
revenue figure on which it is based does
not include or aggregate revenues from
affiliated companies. In addition, an
element of the definition of ‘‘small
business’’ is that the entity not be
dominant in its field of operation. We
are unable at this time to define or
quantify the criteria that would
establish whether a specific television
station is dominant in its field of
operation. Accordingly, the estimate of
small businesses to which rules may
apply do not exclude any television
station from the definition of a small
business on this basis and are therefore
over-inclusive to that extent. Also as
noted, an additional element of the
definition of ‘‘small business’’ is that the
entity must be independently owned
and operated. We note that it is difficult
at times to assess these criteria in the
context of media entities and our
estimates of small businesses to which
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50381
they apply may be over-inclusive to this
extent.
Cable and Other Program
Distribution. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for cable
and other program distribution services,
which includes all such companies
generating $12.5 million or less in
revenue annually. This category
includes, among others, cable systems
operators, closed circuit television
services, direct broadcast satellite
services, multipoint distribution
systems, satellite master antenna
systems, subscription television services
and open video systems. According to
Census Bureau data for 1997, there were
1,311 firms in this category, total, that
had operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of
under $10 million and an additional 52
firms had receipts of $10 million or
more but less than $25 million.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of providers
in this service category are small
businesses that may be affected by the
rules and policies adopted herein.
Cable System Operators (Rate
Regulation Standard). The Commission
has developed its own small business
size standard for cable system operators,
for purposes of rate regulation. Under
the Commission’s rules, a ‘‘small cable
company’’ is one serving fewer than
400,000 subscribers nationwide. The
most recent estimates indicate that there
were 1,439 cable operators who
qualified as small cable system
operators at the end of 1995. Since then,
some of those companies may have
grown to serve over 400,000 subscribers,
and others may have been involved in
transactions that caused them to be
combined with other cable operators.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that there are now fewer than
1,439 small entity cable system
operators that may be affected by the
rules and policies adopted herein.
Cable System Operators (Telecom Act
Standard). The Communications Act of
1934, as amended, also contains a size
standard for small cable system
operators, which is ‘‘a cable operator
that, directly or through an affiliate,
serves in the aggregate fewer than 1
percent of all subscribers in the United
States and is not affiliated with any
entity or entities whose gross annual
revenues in the aggregate exceed
$250,000,000.’’ The Commission has
determined that there are 67,700,000
subscribers in the United States.
Therefore, an operator serving fewer
than 677,000 subscribers shall be
deemed a small operator, if its annual
revenues, when combined with the total
annual revenues of all its affiliates, do
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Proposed Rules
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not exceed $250 million in the
aggregate. Based on available data, the
Commission estimates that the number
of cable operators serving 677,000
subscribers or fewer, totals 1,450. The
Commission neither requests nor
collects information on whether cable
system operators are affiliated with
entities whose gross annual revenues
exceed $250 million, and therefore is
unable, at this time, to estimate more
accurately the number of cable system
operators that would qualify as small
cable operators under the size standard
contained in the Communications Act of
1934.
Description of Projected Reporting,
Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements. While the Joint Proposal
proposes certain changes to the
reporting requirements, we do not
expect these changes to impose
significant additional reporting or
recordkeeping requirements. We expect
the requirements to be the same for large
and small entities. We seek comment on
whether others perceive a need for less
extensive recordkeeping or compliance
requirements for small entities.
Steps Taken to Minimize Significant
Economic Impact on Small Entities and
Significant Alternatives Considered. The
RFA requires an agency to describe any
significant, specifically small business,
alternatives that it has considered in
reaching its proposed approach, which
may include the following four
alternatives (among others): ‘‘(1) The
establishment of differing compliance or
reporting requirements or timetables
that take into account the resources
available to small entities; (2) the
clarification, consolidation, or
simplification of compliance and
reporting requirements under the rule
for such small entities; (3) the use of
performance rather than design
standards; and (4) an exemption from
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,
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for such small entities.’’ The proposals
in the Notice, as discussed in Section A,
would apply equally to large and small
entities and may diminish the economic
impact of the regulations on all entities.
For example, the change proposing that
the Commission lift its numerical limits
on children’s programming preemptions
would, if adopted, provide programmers
greater flexibility in the scheduling of
children’s programming. In addition,
the proposed modifications pertaining
to the display of websites during core
children’s programming would, if
adopted, provide greater flexibility in
the regulations pertaining to commercial
matter. We welcome comment on
modifications of the proposals if such
modifications might assist small entities
and especially if such are based on
evidence of potential differential impact
of the regulations. Specifically, we
welcome comment as to whether or not
small entities would like the
Commission to adopt the provisions of
the Joint Proposal, adopt different
modifications to the rules, or enforce the
existing rules.
Federal Rules that May Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict With the
Commission’s Proposals. None.
Comment Information. Pursuant to
§§ 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s
rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested
parties may file comments and reply
comments on or before the dates
indicated on the first page of this
document. Comments may be filed
using: (1) The Commission’s Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the
Federal Government’s eRulemaking
Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.
Electronic Filers: Comments may be
filed electronically using the Internet by
accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/
cgb/ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking
Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Filers should follow the instructions
provided on the Web site for submitting
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comments. Paper Filers: Parties who
choose to file by paper must file an
original and four copies of each filing.
If more than one docket or rulemaking
number appears in the caption of this
proceeding, filers must submit two
additional copies for each additional
docket or rulemaking number. Filings
can be sent by hand or messenger
delivery, by commercial overnight
courier, or by first-class or overnight
U.S. Postal Service mail (although we
continue to experience delays in
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All
filings must be addressed to the
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission. The Commission’s
contractor will receive hand-delivered
or messenger-delivered paper filings for
the Commission’s Secretary at 236
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110,
Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours
at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All
hand deliveries must be held together
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of before
entering the building. Commercial
overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal
Service Express Mail and Priority Mail)
must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S.
Postal Service first-class, Express, and
Priority mail should be addressed to 445
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20554. 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).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–14157 Filed 8–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50380-50382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14157]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 73 and 76
[FCC 06-33]
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, In the Matter of
Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; correction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On March 27, 2006 (71 FR 15145), the Commission published
proposed rules in the Second Further Notice which sought public comment
on a joint proposal filed by several broadcast and programming entities
and children's television advocates proposing revisions to previously
adopted requirements of television licensees and cable operators with
respect to children's television programming. The Commission
inadvertently omitted the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis,
which was part of the item adopted by the Commission, in the Federal
Register publication. This document corrects the Federal Register as it
appeared.
DATES: Comments on the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis only are
due September 1, 2006. Reply comments are due September 8, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by MM Docket No. 00-167,
by any of the following methods:
[ballot] Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
[ballot] Federal Communications Commission's Web site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
[ballot] E-mail: ecfs@fcc.gov. Include the following words in the
body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and directions will be
sent in response.
[ballot] Mail: Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal
Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East
Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-
class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
[ballot] People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Matthews, Policy Division, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 418-2154.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following is the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Act analysis to be associated with the document proposing
to amend parts 73 and 76 of the Commission's rules that was published
in the Federal Register on March 27, 2006 (71 FR 15145).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. As required by the
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (the ``RFA''), the
Commission has prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(``IRFA'') of the possible significant economic impact of the policies
and rules proposed in the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(``Notice'') on a substantial number of small entities. Written public
comments are requested on this IRFA
[[Page 50381]]
only. Comments must be identified as responses to the IRFA and must be
filed by the deadlines for comments indicated on the first page of this
document. The Commission has sent a copy of the Notice, including this
IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (``SBA''). In addition, the Notice has been published in
the Federal Register.
Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules. Our goal in
commencing this proceeding is to determine whether, and to what extent,
the Commission should adopt proposed recommendations for modification
of rules previously adopted by the Commission in the above-captioned
proceeding. On September 9, 2004, the Commission adopted a Report and
Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 70 FR 25 (January 3,
2005) (``Order'') in this proceeding. The rules in the Order pertain to
the obligation of television licensees to provide educational
programming for children and the requirement that television licensees
protect children from excessive and inappropriate commercial messages.
Among other things, the Order adopted rules regarding the use of Web
site addresses during children's programming, revised the definition of
commercial matter, placed a limit on the number of preemptions of core
children's programming, and created children's programming requirements
for those multicasting free video programming streams. In this
proceeding, we will evaluate proposed modifications to these rules as
presented in a Joint Proposal filed by representatives of broadcast and
cable industries and public interest groups interested in children's
television. First, the Joint Proposal suggests modifications pertaining
to the display of Web sites during core children's programming. Second,
the Joint Proposal recommends further revisions to the definition of
commercial matter. Third, the Joint Proposal suggests that the
Commission lift its numerical limits on children's programming
preemptions. Finally, the Joint Proposal recommends clarifications to
the children's programming requirements for those multicasting free
video programming streams.
Legal Basis. The authority for the action proposed in this
rulemaking is contained in Sections 4(i) & (j), 303, 307, 309 and 336
of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) & (j),
303, 307, 309 and 336.
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which
the Proposed Rules Will Apply. The RFA directs agencies to provide a
description of, and where feasible, an estimate of the number of small
entities that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The
RFA generally defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same
meaning as the terms ``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and
``small governmental jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small
business'' has the same meaning as the term ``small business concern''
under the Small Business Act. A ``small business concern'' is one
which: (1) Is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in
its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria
established by the Small Business Administration (``SBA'').
Television Broadcasting. The proposed rules and policies apply to
television broadcast licensees, and potential licensees of television
service. The SBA defines a television broadcast station as a small
business if such station has no more than $12 million in annual
receipts. Business concerns included in this industry are those
``primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound.''
According to Commission staff review of the BIA Publications, Inc.
Master Access Television Analyzer Database (BIA) on October 18, 2005,
about 873 of the 1,307 commercial television stations (or about 67
percent) have revenues of $12 million or less and thus qualify as small
entities under the SBA definition. We note, however, that in assessing
whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above
definition, business (control) affiliations must be included. Our
estimate, therefore, likely overstates the number of small entities
that might be affected by our action, because the revenue figure on
which it is based does not include or aggregate revenues from
affiliated companies. In addition, an element of the definition of
``small business'' is that the entity not be dominant in its field of
operation. We are unable at this time to define or quantify the
criteria that would establish whether a specific television station is
dominant in its field of operation. Accordingly, the estimate of small
businesses to which rules may apply do not exclude any television
station from the definition of a small business on this basis and are
therefore over-inclusive to that extent. Also as noted, an additional
element of the definition of ``small business'' is that the entity must
be independently owned and operated. We note that it is difficult at
times to assess these criteria in the context of media entities and our
estimates of small businesses to which they apply may be over-inclusive
to this extent.
Cable and Other Program Distribution. The SBA has developed a small
business size standard for cable and other program distribution
services, which includes all such companies generating $12.5 million or
less in revenue annually. This category includes, among others, cable
systems operators, closed circuit television services, direct broadcast
satellite services, multipoint distribution systems, satellite master
antenna systems, subscription television services and open video
systems. According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 1,311
firms in this category, total, that had operated for the entire year.
Of this total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million and
an additional 52 firms had receipts of $10 million or more but less
than $25 million. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the
majority of providers in this service category are small businesses
that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
Cable System Operators (Rate Regulation Standard). The Commission
has developed its own small business size standard for cable system
operators, for purposes of rate regulation. Under the Commission's
rules, a ``small cable company'' is one serving fewer than 400,000
subscribers nationwide. The most recent estimates indicate that there
were 1,439 cable operators who qualified as small cable system
operators at the end of 1995. Since then, some of those companies may
have grown to serve over 400,000 subscribers, and others may have been
involved in transactions that caused them to be combined with other
cable operators. Consequently, the Commission estimates that there are
now fewer than 1,439 small entity cable system operators that may be
affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
Cable System Operators (Telecom Act Standard). The Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, also contains a size standard for small cable
system operators, which is ``a cable operator that, directly or through
an affiliate, serves in the aggregate fewer than 1 percent of all
subscribers in the United States and is not affiliated with any entity
or entities whose gross annual revenues in the aggregate exceed
$250,000,000.'' The Commission has determined that there are 67,700,000
subscribers in the United States. Therefore, an operator serving fewer
than 677,000 subscribers shall be deemed a small operator, if its
annual revenues, when combined with the total annual revenues of all
its affiliates, do
[[Page 50382]]
not exceed $250 million in the aggregate. Based on available data, the
Commission estimates that the number of cable operators serving 677,000
subscribers or fewer, totals 1,450. The Commission neither requests nor
collects information on whether cable system operators are affiliated
with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250 million, and
therefore is unable, at this time, to estimate more accurately the
number of cable system operators that would qualify as small cable
operators under the size standard contained in the Communications Act
of 1934.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other
Compliance Requirements. While the Joint Proposal proposes certain
changes to the reporting requirements, we do not expect these changes
to impose significant additional reporting or recordkeeping
requirements. We expect the requirements to be the same for large and
small entities. We seek comment on whether others perceive a need for
less extensive recordkeeping or compliance requirements for small
entities.
Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small
Entities and Significant Alternatives Considered. The RFA requires an
agency to describe any significant, specifically small business,
alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach,
which may include the following four alternatives (among others): ``(1)
The establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or
timetables that take into account the resources available to small
entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of
compliance and reporting requirements under the rule for such small
entities; (3) the use of performance rather than design standards; and
(4) an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for
such small entities.'' The proposals in the Notice, as discussed in
Section A, would apply equally to large and small entities and may
diminish the economic impact of the regulations on all entities. For
example, the change proposing that the Commission lift its numerical
limits on children's programming preemptions would, if adopted, provide
programmers greater flexibility in the scheduling of children's
programming. In addition, the proposed modifications pertaining to the
display of websites during core children's programming would, if
adopted, provide greater flexibility in the regulations pertaining to
commercial matter. We welcome comment on modifications of the proposals
if such modifications might assist small entities and especially if
such are based on evidence of potential differential impact of the
regulations. Specifically, we welcome comment as to whether or not
small entities would like the Commission to adopt the provisions of the
Joint Proposal, adopt different modifications to the rules, or enforce
the existing rules.
Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the
Commission's Proposals. None.
Comment Information. Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the
Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file
comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the
first page of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal
Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the
Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or the
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Filers should
follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting
comments. Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file
an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery,
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to
the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission. The Commission's contractor will receive
hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the
Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110,
Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7
p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or
fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the
building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class,
Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. 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).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-14157 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
