DAILY DIGESTVol. 15, No. 37 March 6, 1996
** Before an entry denotes that the item is part of the
FCC's implementation of the 1996 Telecommunications
Act. While we will attempt to flag all Telecom Act-related
items, this marking is unofficial and informational only.
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NEWS RELEASE
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FCC AND USCG JOIN FORCES TO TRACK DOWN
HOAX DISTRESS CALLER (Report No. CI 96-1,
Compliance and Information Action)
The FCC and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), on
February 12, combined forces to locate a man who was
making false distress calls to the Coast Guard over his
marine band VHF-FM radio. FCC agents tracked the radio
signal to the man's home in Arnold, MD, from where he
was making false distress calls and operating a marine band
radio without an FCC license. These violations could result
in both civil and criminal penalties up to $10,000 and one
year in jail per violation. In cases of false distress calls in
which water and air resources are deployed, the caller can
be held responsible for all costs associated with the search
and rescue effort.
Contact: FCC agent Catherine Minderlein at (301)
725-0940; USCG Lieutenant Claudia Gelzer at (410) 576-
2660.
COMMISSION AFFIRMS FORFEITURES ASSESSED
AGAINST VERNON A. PAROLI (GRETNA. LA) AND
JOHN B. GENOVESE (NEW ORLEANS, LA) FOR
INTERFERENCE WITH AMATEUR RADIO
COMMUNICATIONS (Report No. CI 96-2, Compliance
& Information Action)
Action by the Commission February 16 by MO&Os
(FCC 96-72 and 96-73).
News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-
0500; CIB contact: Douglas Cooper at (202) 418-1167.
[Internet file name: nrci5008.txt]
** COMMISSION APPROVES ORDER AND NOTICE
OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING REGARDING
SCRAMBLING OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ADULT
VIDEO SERVICE PROGRAMMING - DC DOCKET 96-40
(Report No. DC 96-20, Action in Docket Case)
The Commission has approved and Order and
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (FCC 96-84)
adopting a rule affecting sexually explicit adult programming
or other indecent programming provided on any channel of
service dedicated to sexually-oriented programming. The
Order and NPRM implement Section 505 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 which adds a new Section
641 to the Communications Act.
News Media contact: Morgan Broman at (202)
416-0852; Cable Services Bureau contact: Meryle S. Icove
at (202) 416-0800.
COMMISSION AND CONTINENTAL CABLEVISION,
INC. NEGOTIATE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
THEIR SOCIAL CONTRACT; COMMISSION REQUEST
PUBLIC COMMENT (Report No. CS 96-15, Cable
Services Action)
News Media contact: Morgan Broman at (202) 416-
0852; Cable Services Bureau contacts: John Norton and
Jerome Fowlkes at (202) 416-0800.
** DAVID ELLEN MOVING TO POLICY AND
PROGRAM PLANNING DIVISION OF COMMON
CARRIER BUREAU TO BE SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR
LEGISLATION IMPLEMENTATION
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PUBLIC NOTICES
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AMENDMENT TO SOCIAL CONTRACT FOR
CONTINENTAL CABLEVISION, INC. AVAILABLE
FOR COMMENT - Contact: John Norton at (202) 418-
1035 or Jerome Fowlkes at (202) 418-2235
PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS
ON BELLSOUTH CORPORATION'S PETITION FOR
WAIVER OF THE COMMISSION'S COMPUTER III
RULES FOR REVERSE SEARCH CAPABILITY - CC
DOCKET NO. 90-623 - Comments are due March 20,
replies March 27 - Contact: Janice Myles at (202) 418-1577
[DA 96-296]
RESTRICTED PROCEEDING - The Office of Engineering
& Technology has received a complaint against Capital
Broadcasting Systems, Inc. asking, inter alia, for the
revocation of the license of Experimental Station KF2XBF.
Report No. SPB-39 - SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH
INFORMATION: DIRECT BROADCAST SATELLITE
SERVICE APPLICATION ACCEPTED FOR FILING -
Petitions or oppositions by April 5, responses by April 19
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TEXTS
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INTERACTIVE VIDEO AND DATA SERVICE (IVDS).
Denied Jan Reed's and Edward Johnson's applications for
review of a Bureau order denying petitions filed by Reed
in the matter of 18 applicants selected to received licenses
in nine IVDS markets. (By MO&O [FCC 96-57] adopted
February 13 by the Commission)
VISALIA, CA. Denied the NAACP's petition to deny the
renewal application of Pampas Telecasting Incorporated for
Station KMPH(TV), Visalia, CA; dismissed the petition to
deny filed by the League of United Latin American
Citizens; granted the license renewal application of Station
KMPH(TV). (By MO&O [FCC 96-46] adopted February
5 by the Commission)
KEWANEE, IL. Effective April 22, substituted Channel
230A for Channel 221A at Kewanee, and modified the
license of WJRE(FM) accordingly. (MM Docket No. 95-
160 by R&O [DA 96-253] adopted February 26 by the
Chief, Allocations Branch, Mass Media Bureau)
CANTON, IL, AND CANTON, MO. Proposed
substituting Channel 265C2 for Channel 265C3 at Canton,
MO, and modifying the license of KRRY accordingly;
substituting Channel 252A for vacant Channel 265A at
Canton, IL, to accommodate the proposal for Canton, MO;
sought comment on deletion of Channel 265A at Canton,
IL. Comments are due April 29, replies May 14. (MM
Docket No. 96-32 by NPRM [DA 96-218] adopted February
21 by the Chief, Allocations Branch)
CHESTER AND RICHMOND, VA. Proposed substituting
Channel 266A for Channel 289A at Chester, and modifying
the construction permit of WDYL(FM); substituting
Channel 289A for vacant but applied for Channel 266A in
Richmond. Comments are due April 29, replies May 14.
(MM Docket No. 96-29 by NPRM [DA 96-231] adopted
February 22 by the Chief, Allocations Branch)
ANTIGO, WI. Proposed allotting UHF television Channel
46 to Antigo as its first local television service. Comments
are due April 29, replies May 14. (MM Docket No. 96-30
by NPRM [DA 96-238] adopted February 22 by the Chief,
Allocations Branch)
WITTENBERG, WI. Proposed allotting UHF television
Channel 55 to Wittenberg as its first local television service.
Comments are due April 29, replies May 14. (MM Docket
No. 96-31 by NPRM [DA 96-239] adopted February 23 by
the Chief, Allocations Branch)
JACKSON, WY. Effective April 22, allotted Channel 227C
to Jackson as its third FM service. The filing window
opens April 22, closes May 23. (MM Docket No. 95-171
by R&O [DA 96-250] adopted February 28 by the Chief,
Allocations Branch)
+++++++++++
ADDENDA: The following items released March 5 were
not listed on Digest 36:
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NEWS RELEASE
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FCC DESIGNATES FOR HEARING APPLICATIONS OF
LIBERTY CABLE CO., INC. FOR OPERATION OF
PRIVATE OPERATIONAL FIXED MICROWAVE
SERVICE IN NEW YORK, NY - WT DOCKET NO. 96-
41 (Report No. DC 96-19, Action in Docket Case)
Action by the Commission March 4 by Hearing
Designation Order and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing
(FCC 96-85).
News Media contact: Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-
0654; Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Joseph
Weber at (202) 418-1317. [Internet file name nrwl6009.txt]
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PUBLIC NOTICE
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Report No. 23687A - BROADCAST APPLICATION
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ALASCOM, INC. Granted Alascom's request for an
extension of time to March 11 to file its reply comments on
the revised cost allocation plan. (By Order [DA 96-294]
adopted March 5 by the Chief, Accounting and Audits
Division, Common Carrier Bureau)
LIBERTY CABLE CO., INC. See first item under
ADDENDA: "News Release."
PRACTICAL TELEPHONY CORPORATION (PIC).
Conditionally granted PIC's request for a waiver of the
rules to offer a device that detects the presence of a stutter
dial tone. (By Order [DA 96-295] adopted March 5 by the
Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau)
** DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES. Initiated
proceeding to establish dispute resolution procedures
regarding equipment standards. (GC Docket No. 96-42 by
NPRM [FCC 96-87] adopted March 5 by the Commission)