EN
Let Y be a closed 2-dimensional disk or a 2-sphere. We consider a simple, d-sheeted branched covering π: X → Y. We fix a base point A₀ in Y (A₀ ∈ ∂Y if Y is a disk). We consider the homeomorphisms h of Y which fix ∂Y pointwise and lift to homeomorphisms ϕ of X-the automorphisms of π. We prove that if Y is a sphere then every such ϕ is isotopic by a fiber-preserving isotopy to an automorphism which fixes the fiber $π^{-1}(A₀)$ pointwise. If Y is a disk, we describe explicitly a small set of automorphisms of π which induce all allowable permutations of $π^{-1}(A₀)$. This complements our result in Fund. Math. 217 (2012), no. 2, where we found a set of generators for the group of isotopy classes of automorphisms of π which fix the fiber $π^{-1}(A₀)$ pointwise.