The bureau said Oct. 12 that sufficient time was allotted for comments on proposals to promote minority and female media ownership and denied two requests for an extension.

Due to the importance of the issues under consideration, the FCC said this week it would push back the deadline for comments and reply comments in the proceeding.

The bureau said extending the deadlines was “warranted to facilitate informed comments” on the Third DTV Period Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Reply comments on the issues remanded by the Third Circuit appellate court in the Prometheus case are now due in mid January.

The bureau extended the deadline for reply comments till Jan. 17 following a request from the NAB.

Responding to a request from Free Press and other groups, the Media Bureau has pushed back the deadline for comments and reply comments from interested parties.

The extension will give broadcasters and other interested parties time to digest what they learned at the 2011 NAB Show about incentive auctions to inform their reply comments.

The new deadlines for comments and reply comments are July 8 and July 21, respectively.