NEWSReport No. MM 97-10               MASS MEDIA ACTION            May 28, 1997

     COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON PROPOSALS TO RELAX MAIN STUDIO AND
    PUBLIC INSPECTION FILE REQUIREMENTS FOR BROADCAST TELEVISION AND
                             RADIO STATIONS 
                         (MM Docket No. 97-138)

     The Commission has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that seeks comment
on relaxing its rules governing a broadcast licensee's main studio and local public inspection
file.  It proposes to relax the standard governing the location of the main studio and also
proposes to allow the public file to be located at the broadcast station's main studio,
wherever located.  Comment is also sought regarding proposals to streamline the contents of
the public inspection file.

     Currently, the main studio rule generally requires each radio and TV station to
maintain its main studio within its principal community contour.  The public inspection file
rules requires that stations maintain their public file at the station's main studio when located
in the community of license, or, if the main studio is located outside the community, at any
accessible place (such as a public registry for documents or an attorney's office) in the
community of license.  These rules are both rooted in the obligation of each licensee to serve
the needs and interests of its community by seeking to ensure that members of the local
community have reasonable access to station management and information about the station. 
This access enables the residents of the community to monitor a station's public interest
performance, and encourages a continuing dialogue between the station and its community.   

     The Notice of Proposed Rule Making seeks comment on various proposals that would
continue to promote a dialogue between a licensee and its community, but at the same time
minimize regulatory burdens and give more flexibility to broadcasters.  With respect to the
main studio rule, the Notice seeks comment on several options, including: (1) allowing a
station to locate its main studio within the principal community contour of any station
licensed to its community of license; (2) allowing a station to locate its main studio within a
radius of a set number of miles (e.g., 50 miles) from the center of its community of license;
and (3) a combination of these two approaches (i.e., a station could locate its main studio
anywhere in the principal community contour of any station licensed to the same community,
or within a set distance from the community of license).  



     The Commission also seeks comment on a proposal to allow licensees to locate their
local public inspection files at their main studios, wherever located.  In addition, the
Commission also seeks comment on various ways to clarify and streamline requirements
regarding the contents of the public inspection file and to clarify the rule by deleting or
amending requirements.  

     Action by the Commission, May 22, 1997, by Notice of Proposed Rule Making (FCC
97-182).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.
  -FCC-


     Mass Media Bureau Contact: Victoria M. McCauley at (202) 418-2130.