Most of time in 2-hour closed session on Hill Tues. on progress b...

content providers, we're told by some of participants. Several private deals have been reached among programmers, cable and manufacturers and House Commerce Committee members present told participants they wanted to see those documents. According to others at meeting, FCC participants -- led by Task Force Chmn. Rich Chessen -- were asked several questions about upcoming Ch. 60-69 auctions and related issues, such as interference, but said they weren’t prepared to respond. Among other issues brought up -- at what was described as “a very interesting meeting” -- were specifications for set-top boxes and what they were capable of doing, as well as program repurposing over Internet. Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) and Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) were only members present, but staffers represented several other committee members. Because of many remaining questions, Tauzin said he planned to call 4th meeting on DTV transition, to be followed by public hearing before Upton’s subcommittee. Meanwhile, at FCC deadline was Mon. for commercial stations in markets 31-plus to file requests for extension of time to equip for DTV transmission. Noncommercial stations have until May 2003. As of 4 p.m. Tues., Commission official said 562 (mostly electronic) requests had been logged in “and still counting,” mostly paper filings. By far largest majority seeking extensions (351) cited equipment problems, another 197 cited legal (zoning, FAA, FCC, which still hasn’t granted 160 stations digital construction permits, some of which filed for extension, some didn’t because they were told they didn’t need to). Financial difficulties were cited by 78 stations as reason they needed extension, and another 92 cited miscellaneous reasons (such as need to move FM antenna from tower). FCC Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart told NAB conference late last month that requests would be acted on “as they come in… rapidly” (CD Feb 26 p3).