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                            Before the
                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20554

 
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               

In the Matter of

Amendment of the Commission's Rules
to Relocate the Digital Electronic Message
Service From the 18 GHz Band to the 24
GHz Band and to Allocate the 24 GHz Band
for Fixed Service


     ET Docket. No. 97-99 



                             ORDER

        Adopted: July 17, 1997Released: July 17, 1997

By the Chief, Satellite Policy Branch:

   1.  The Commission has received requests from several parties to this proceeding
regarding procedural rules.  These include two requests to exceed page limitation, a request for
consolidation of reply date, and an opposition to the the DEMS Licensees' joint motion to
exceed page limit.  Because we find that it is in the public interest to waive the page limitation
for replies and consolidate the reply deadline to July 23, 1997, we grant these requests.  Also, we
deny the opposition to the DEMS Licensee's joint motion to exceed page limit.

     2. Although the Commission does not routinely grant waivers of the page limit or filing
period rules, we agree with the parties making these reasonable requests that the public interest
would be more adequately served if they are permitted to exceed the reply page limit and
consolidate the filing deadline to July 23, 1997.  Specifically, we find that because of the
complexity of the issues involved, the fact that the DEMS Licensees were granted a waiver of the
page limit, and the lack of prejudice to parties, granting these requests will once again eliminate
the need for duplicative pleadings, reduce the burden on all parties to the proceeding, and
conserve Commission resources.  

     3.  We deny WebCel's arguments raised in its opposition to the DEMS Licensees' joint
motion to exceed page limit for the reasons explained in the DEMS Licensees' extension order.

   4. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Sections 4(i) and 303 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i) and 303; and pursuant to
Sections 0.51, 0.261, 1.4(h), 1.48, and 1.429(g) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.51,
0.261, 1.4(h), 1.48, and 1.429(g). 

   5.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the requests to exceed the reply page limitation     in
the above captioned proceeding ARE GRANTED.

   6.  IT IS FURTHER ORDER that the request to consoldate the reply filing deadline IS
GRANTED and reply comments to the Oppositions to the Petitions for Reconsideration of the
DEMS Relocation Order are due July 23, 1997.

   7.  IT IS FURTHER ORDER that the opposition to the DEMS Licensees' joint motion to
exceed page limit IS DENIED.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   
   Fern J. Jarmulnek
   Chief, Satellite Policy Branch