Petition for Rulemaking; Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, and the Sunlight Foundation Seeking Expansion of Online Public File Obligations, 51136-51137 [2014-20518]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 51136 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 27, 2014 / Proposed Rules Although the petitioner argues that operating a few miles beyond the limits established in the regulations should be considered as safe as operating within the limits, the maritime regulations are based on the existence of well documented thresholds beyond which higher standards apply. To consider this request under that logic would be to undermine a key foundation in the Coast Guard’s approach to maritime regulation. Moreover, the area’s geography contains a large expanse of shallow water along the proposed route, which would preclude a fully laden barge from seeking a close port of refuge in an emergency. Depending on where the barge was in its journey, the nearest accessible port of refuge may be as far as 31 miles away. We also considered evaluating this request based on geographically limiting the route from a specific upriver port or terminal to a specific port or destination in Tampa. In a prior petition for an exemption on the Great Lakes, this was the approach that was taken to severely limit the scope of application and ensure an adequate level of safety along a limited route within the Great Lakes. Even if the Coast Guard restricted the exemption to only those vessels that originated at certain up-river terminals, as was done on the Great Lakes, this decision would allow non-LL river barges to operate on a LL route, which would create a multi-tiered regulatory regime, based on specific routes between designated upriver terminals and the Tampa Bay ports. Under this regime, a tug that traveled from a designated upriver terminal to Tampa Bay would be able to use a non-LL river barge, but a tug that traveled along the same waters between other coastal ports and Tampa Bay would have to use a LL barge. The Coast Guard believes such discrepancies do not serve the interests of maritime safety or maritime commerce generally, because they foster confusion and opportunities for abuse, and can remove or weaken incentives for safety and efficiency. Moreover, a multi-tiered regulatory regime is unenforceable as a practical matter. Load line and non-LL barges can legitimately be found in the same port and there is nothing that inherently identifies a non-LL barge participating in any such multi-tiered program. Therefore, if the requested exempted route is established, there is nothing that effectively prevents non-LL barges from loading cargoes at any Gulf port (not just upriver terminals) for delivery to Tampa, or for return cargoes (loaded at Tampa) to be delivered to any Gulf port. In order to prevent such transits, the Coast Guard would need to VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Aug 26, 2014 Jkt 232001 individually inspect the cargo manifest and vessel logs for all non-LL barges, causing delay to all vessels including those that may be on permissible voyages inside the Boundary Line. The delay to commercial shipping and the diversion of Coast Guard resources to this effort are not practicable or in the interest of maritime commerce. With minor exceptions, the U.S. requirements for domestic load line are the same as the requirements for an international load line and are consistent with the International Load Line Convention. As a party to the convention, the U.S. is obliged to promote standardization of load line regulations. Our decision to deny the petition is consistent with this obligation. For all the reasons above, the Coast Guard denies the petition and will not undertake the rulemaking requested. This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 553(e), 555(e) and 46 U.S.C. 5108. Dated: August 15, 2014. J.G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard. [FR Doc. 2014–19944 Filed 8–26–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Chapter I [MB Docket No. 14–127; DA 14–1149] Petition for Rulemaking; Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, and the Sunlight Foundation Seeking Expansion of Online Public File Obligations Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice of petition for rulemaking; solicitation of comments. AGENCY: The Media Bureau solicits public comment on a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that the FCC initiate a rulemaking to expand to cable and satellite the requirement that public and political files be posted to the FCC’s online database. The Media Bureau also seeks comment on expanding public file obligations to radio licensees. DATES: Comments may be filed on or before August 28, 2014, and reply comments may be filed on or before September 8, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by MB Docket No. 14–127, by any of the following methods: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Federal Communications Commission’s Web site: https:// fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. • People With Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: 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, Media Bureau, Policy Division, 202–418–2154, or email at kim.matthews@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau’s document in MB Docket No. 14–127, DA 14–1149, released on August 7, 2014. The full text of this document is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be available via ECFS at https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. Alternative formats are available for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) by sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 (TTY). Summary The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation filed a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) ‘‘initiate a rulemaking to expand to cable and satellite systems the requirement that E:\FR\FM\27AUP1.SGM 27AUP1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 166 / Wednesday, August 27, 2014 / Proposed Rules public and political files be posted to the FCC’s online database.’’ 1 When it adopted the online public file rules, the Commission decided to limit initial implementation to broadcast television stations, specifically declining to require radio, cable systems or other multichannel video programming distributors to post public file documents to the FCC’s online database at that time.2 The Commission explained that there was an insufficient record to extend the requirement beyond broadcast television, and that starting with television licensees would ‘‘ease the initial implementation of the online public file.’’ 3 The online public file launched on August 2, 2012. In the intervening two years, over half a million items have been successfully uploaded into the online file, and the site has generated nearly five million page views. Despite initial concerns, NAB has characterized the first wave of implementation as ‘‘uneventful.’’ 4 As of July 1, 2014, all television broadcast stations have fully transitioned to the online file. With this transition complete, we seek comment on the above-mentioned petition. We also seek comment on whether the Commission should initiate a rulemaking proceeding to require broadcast radio stations to use the online public file, and on an appropriate time frame for such a requirement.5 This proceeding will be treated as ‘‘permit but disclose’’ for purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1200–1.1216. As a mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 1 The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation Petition for Rulemaking, filed July 31, 2014 at 1. 2 Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations, 27 FCC Rcd 4535, 4585– 86 (2012) (‘‘Online File Order’’). 3 Id. at 4586. 4 NAB Comments at 3, Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations, MM Docket 00–168, filed Aug. 26, 2013. 5 In the Online File Order, the Commission delegated to Commission staff the authority to allow radio stations to voluntarily post their public files in the online database ‘‘at such time as staff determines that such an option is feasible and desirable. . . .’’ Online File Order at 4586. Commission staff is analyzing the budget and technical issues that are involved in allowing radio licensees to upload documents to the online public file voluntarily. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:09 Aug 26, 2014 Jkt 232001 result of the permit-but-disclose status of this proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 1.1206 (47 CFR 1.1206) of the Commission’s rules applicable to non-restricted proceedings.6 Given that all comments will be posted to the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), we hereby waive the requirement that parties be served copies of the comments and reply comments in this proceeding,7 pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commissions rules.8 Interested parties may file comments on or before August 28, 2014 and reply comments on or before September 8, 2014. All filings must reference MB Docket No. 14–127. In order to be considered part of the official record, comments must be filed using: (1) ECFS, (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.9 Comments sent via email to the Commission that do not use the ECFS form described below will be considered informal and will not be part of the official record. • 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. • For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal service mailing address, and the applicable docket number: MB Docket No. 14–127. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet email. To get filing instructions, filers should send an email to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message: ‘‘get form’’. A sample form and instructions will be sent in response. • Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be 6 47 CFR 1.1206. CFR 1.405. 8 47 CFR 1.3. 9 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97–113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322, 11326, para. 8 (1998). 7 47 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 51137 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, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. • All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St. SW., Room TW–A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. • 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 mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Copies of all filings will be available in MB Docket No. 14–127 through ECFS and are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 418–0270. They may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 488–5300, facsimile (202) 488–5563, or via email at fcc@bcpiweb.com. Alternate formats of this Public Notice (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, or Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 or (202) 418– 0432 (TTY). Federal Communications Commission. Thomas Horan, Chief of Staff, Media Bureau. [FR Doc. 2014–20518 Filed 8–26–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P E:\FR\FM\27AUP1.SGM 27AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51136-51137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20518]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Chapter I

[MB Docket No. 14-127; DA 14-1149]


Petition for Rulemaking; Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, and 
the Sunlight Foundation Seeking Expansion of Online Public File 
Obligations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of petition for rulemaking; solicitation of comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Media Bureau solicits public comment on a Petition for 
Rulemaking requesting that the FCC initiate a rulemaking to expand to 
cable and satellite the requirement that public and political files be 
posted to the FCC's online database. The Media Bureau also seeks 
comment on expanding public file obligations to radio licensees.

DATES: Comments may be filed on or before August 28, 2014, and reply 
comments may be filed on or before September 8, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by MB Docket No. 14-127, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     People With Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: 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, Media Bureau, Policy 
Division, 202-418-2154, or email at kim.matthews@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's 
document in MB Docket No. 14-127, DA 14-1149, released on August 7, 
2014. The full text of this document is available for public inspection 
and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be available via ECFS at  
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be available 
electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. 
Alternative formats are available for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) by sending an 
email to fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 
(TTY).

Summary

    The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation 
filed a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that the Federal 
Communications Commission (Commission) ``initiate a rulemaking to 
expand to cable and satellite systems the requirement that

[[Page 51137]]

public and political files be posted to the FCC's online database.'' 
\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight 
Foundation Petition for Rulemaking, filed July 31, 2014 at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When it adopted the online public file rules, the Commission 
decided to limit initial implementation to broadcast television 
stations, specifically declining to require radio, cable systems or 
other multichannel video programming distributors to post public file 
documents to the FCC's online database at that time.\2\ The Commission 
explained that there was an insufficient record to extend the 
requirement beyond broadcast television, and that starting with 
television licensees would ``ease the initial implementation of the 
online public file.'' \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for 
Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations, 27 FCC 
Rcd 4535, 4585-86 (2012) (``Online File Order'').
    \3\ Id. at 4586.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The online public file launched on August 2, 2012. In the 
intervening two years, over half a million items have been successfully 
uploaded into the online file, and the site has generated nearly five 
million page views. Despite initial concerns, NAB has characterized the 
first wave of implementation as ``uneventful.'' \4\ As of July 1, 2014, 
all television broadcast stations have fully transitioned to the online 
file.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ NAB Comments at 3, Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure 
Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest 
Obligations, MM Docket 00-168, filed Aug. 26, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With this transition complete, we seek comment on the above-
mentioned petition. We also seek comment on whether the Commission 
should initiate a rulemaking proceeding to require broadcast radio 
stations to use the online public file, and on an appropriate time 
frame for such a requirement.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ In the Online File Order, the Commission delegated to 
Commission staff the authority to allow radio stations to 
voluntarily post their public files in the online database ``at such 
time as staff determines that such an option is feasible and 
desirable. . . .'' Online File Order at 4586. Commission staff is 
analyzing the budget and technical issues that are involved in 
allowing radio licensees to upload documents to the online public 
file voluntarily.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This proceeding will be treated as ``permit but disclose'' for 
purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. See generally 47 CFR 
1.1200-1.1216. As a result of the permit-but-disclose status of this 
proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures 
set forth in Section 1.1206 (47 CFR 1.1206) of the Commission's rules 
applicable to non-restricted proceedings.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 47 CFR 1.1206.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given that all comments will be posted to the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), we hereby waive the 
requirement that parties be served copies of the comments and reply 
comments in this proceeding,\7\ pursuant to Section 1.3 of the 
Commissions rules.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 47 CFR 1.405.
    \8\ 47 CFR 1.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interested parties may file comments on or before August 28, 2014 
and reply comments on or before September 8, 2014. All filings must 
reference MB Docket No. 14-127. In order to be considered part of the 
official record, comments must be filed using: (1) ECFS, (2) the 
Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper 
copies.\9\ Comments sent via email to the Commission that do not use 
the ECFS form described below will be considered informal and will not 
be part of the official record.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking 
Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 
11322, 11326, para. 8 (1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     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.
     For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, 
filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal service mailing 
address, and the applicable docket number: MB Docket No. 14-127. 
Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet email. To get 
filing instructions, filers should send an email to ecfs@fcc.gov, and 
include the following words in the body of the message: ``get form''. A 
sample form and instructions will be sent in response.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and four copies of each filing. 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, Marlene H. 
Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St. SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand 
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any 
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing 
hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
     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 mail, Express Mail, and 
Priority Mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 
20554.
    Copies of all filings will be available in MB Docket No. 14-127 
through ECFS and are also available for public inspection and copying 
during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, 
Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, 
telephone (202) 418-0270. They may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 
Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, 
telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, or via email at 
fcc@bcpiweb.com.
    Alternate formats of this Public Notice (computer diskette, large 
print, audio recording, or Braille) are available to persons with 
disabilities by contacting the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
at (202) 418-0530 or (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2014-20518 Filed 8-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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