The FCC granted a joint request from environmental groups and industry trade associations for additional time to file comments in the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the effects of communications towers on migratory birds. The joint request from American Bird Conservancy, CTIA - The Wireless Association, Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Defense, National Association of Broadcasters, National Audubon Society, the National Association of Tower Erectors and PCIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association requested a 90-day extension of comments and reply comments, extending these deadlines to April 23, 2007 and May 23, 2007, respectively. In the request, these groups said they had been engaged in "a dialogue related to avian tower safety."
In Order DA 07-72, the FCC extended the deadlines to the requested dates. The order noted that the parties requesting the extensions were active participants in the docket and that they included both trade organizations and environmental groups. It said, "Given that they are in agreement that the additional time would be beneficial to conduct discussions related to avian tower safety, we find that providing the extension requested in this Motion serves the public interest."
