PUBLIC NOTICE
                                                                              
   Federal Communications Commission
   1919 M St., N.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20554

                                                                              

                                                                              
   DA 98-128           Released:  January 26, 1998

                                                                              DATE FOR FILING LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS AND OWNERSHIP
REPORTS FOR RADIO STATIONS IN SIX COUNTIES IN NEW YORK STATE
EXTENDED TO:  MARCH 2,            1998

                         
This Public Notice is issued in response to an "Emergency Petition" filed January 16, 1998,
by the New York State Broadcasters Association, Inc. ("NYSBA") and a "Request for
Extension" filed January 16, 1998, by the National Association of Broadcasters ("NAB") on
behalf of radio stations whose community of license, transmitter site or studio is located in
the New York counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence.  The
Chief, Mass Media Bureau, by this Notice and pursuant to 47 C.F.R.  73.3539(a) and
73.3615(a), extends until March 2, 1998, the date by which licensees for these stations are
required to file their license renewal applications (FCC Form 303-S) and their corresponding
Ownership Reports (FCC Form 323).

Licenses for radio stations in New York expire on June 1, 1998.  Pursuant to 47 C.F.R. 
73.3539 and 73.3615(a) license renewal applications and Ownership Reports for those
stations are due to be filed with the Commission by February 2, 1998.  The NYSBA and the
NAB state that over the past weeks, the six referenced counties in New York have
experienced unprecedented ice storms in addition to snow, flooding and winds which have
left thousands without power, heat and telephone service.  As a result of the severe weather
conditions, President Clinton has issued a major disaster declaration for the state of New
York which has resulted in each of the six counties being designated as eligible for federal
disaster assistance.  The NYSBA maintains that most of the affected stations that it has been
able to contact are in a "state of chaos."  It states that some stations have lost their towers
and are unable to operate and that other stations are struggling to maintain operation with
back-up generators in order to continue to provide critical news, weather and other
emergency/public safety information.  Both the NYSBA and the NAB maintain that many of
the stations in these six counties face great difficulty in assembling and gathering their
renewal and ownership data; in some instances crucial information has been damaged or
rendered unaccessible; station managers have been unable to coordinate with key personnel
and counsel concerning the station's renewal applications; and the efforts of personnel
involved in preparing renewal applications and Ownership Reports are better devoted to
restoring broadcast service so that the stations can remain on the air and continue to assist
their respective communities in their recovering efforts.

Under these circumstances, radio stations whose community of license, transmitter site or
studio is located in the six referenced counties of New York state will be permitted to file
their renewal applications and Ownership Reports by March 2, 1998, rather than by the
required due date of February 2, 1998.  The deadline for filing petitions to deny against any
renewal application filed after the February 2, 1998 filing date will be the 90th day after the
Commission issues public notice of the acceptance for filing of the application.  See 47
C.F.R.  73.3516(e)(1) and 73.3584(a).  All post-filing announcements and any pre-filing
announcements that have not already been made in connection with the renewal application
should reflect theses dates.  Furthermore, pursuant to 47 C.F.R.  73.3580(d)(4)(i), stations
filing renewal applications after February 2, 1998, should continue to broadcast their pre-
filing announcements on the 1st and the 16th of February until the renewal is filed.

For radio stations covered by this Public Notice that are able and elect to file their renewal
applications by February 2, 1998, the date for filing petitions to deny against these
applications will remain unchanged (i.e., May 1, 1998) as do our requirements with respect
to pre-filing and post-filing announcements.

Action by the Chief, Mass Media Bureau, January 23, 1998, by Public Notice.

For additional information, contact Ricardo M. Durham at 202 418-1690.



                                   -FCC-