2019-20568. Procedural Streamlining of Administrative Hearings  

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    AGENCY:

    Federal Communications Commission.

    ACTION:

    Proposed rule.

    SUMMARY:

    In this document, the Commission proposes procedural changes to administrative hearings under the Communications Act of 1934, Start Printed Page 53356as amended. The proposals would supplement the Commission's current administrative law judge referral process and promote more efficient resolution of hearings. The Commission seeks comment on proposals to codify and expand the use of written testimony and documentary evidence in lieu of live testimony and cross-examination. The Commission also seeks comment on proposals that would enable Commission staff to act as a case manager that would supervise development of the written hearing record when the Commission designates itself as the presiding officer at a hearing. Finally, the Commission seeks comment on a proposal to dispense with the preparation of an intermediate opinion whenever the record of a proceeding can be certified to the Commission for final decision.

    DATES:

    Comments are due on or before November 6, 2019 and reply comments are due on or before November 21, 2019.

    ADDRESSES:

    You may submit comments, identified by EB Docket No. 19-214, by any of the following methods:

    • Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/​ecfs2/​.
    • Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.

    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

    • All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St. SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building.
    • Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
    • U.S. Postal Service first class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.

    People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For additional information on this proceeding, contact Lisa Boehley of the Market Disputes Resolution Division, Enforcement Bureau, at Lisa.Boehley@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7395.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 19-86, EB Docket No. 19-214, adopted on September 3, 2019 and released on September 6, 2019. The full text of this document is available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, or online at https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/​file/​090628688258/​FCC-19-86A1.pdf. To request this document in accessible formats for people with disabilities (e.g., Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format, etc.) or to request reasonable accommodations (e.g., accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

    Synopsis

    1. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), we seek comment on procedural changes that, if adopted, would streamline many administrative hearings under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act). Currently, these hearings typically are conducted like trials in civil litigation and include, among other things, live testimony before an administrative law judge, cross-examination of witnesses, and an initial decision by the administrative law judge that is subject to review by the Commission. The Commission has observed that such trial-type hearings are costly and impose significant burdens and delays on both applicants and the agency that may not be necessary.

    2. The procedures outlined here are designed to supplement the Commission's current administrative law judge referral process and promote more efficient resolution of hearings. If adopted, the proposals would (a) codify and expand the use of a process that would rely on written testimony and documentary evidence in lieu of live testimony and cross-examination; (b) enable Commission staff to act as a case manager that would supervise development of the written hearing record when the Commission designates itself as the presiding officer at a hearing; and (c) dispense with the preparation of an intermediate opinion whenever the record of a proceeding can be certified to the Commission for final decision. The proposed procedures would expedite the Commission's hearing processes consistent with the requirements of the Communications Act and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) while ensuring transparency and procedural fairness.

    3. Several provisions of the Communications Act require or permit the Commission to conduct an adjudicatory hearing to resolve a matter. These provisions generally do not identify particular procedures that the Commission must follow. For example,

    • Section 309(e) requires the Commission, when a substantial and material fact is presented or when it is unable to make the public interest finding in section 309(a), to designate a license application for a “full hearing”;
    • Section 309(k)(3) requires a section 309(e) “full hearing” when the Commission is unable to make the requisite findings to grant a broadcast station renewal request;
    • Section 312(c) requires the Commission to conduct a “hearing” before revoking a station license or construction permit pursuant to section 312(a);
    • Section 316(a) and (b) provide that a “hearing” may be conducted before the Commission modifies a station license or construction permit;
    • Section 9(c)(3) requires a “hearing” before the Commission may revoke an instrument of authorization for failure to pay a regulatory fee if “the licensee's response [to a notice of intent to revoke] presents a substantial and material question of fact”;
    • Section 204(a) authorizes the Commission to conduct a “hearing” concerning the lawfulness of a tariff;
    • Sections 208 and 209 require the Commission to conduct a “hearing” to resolve a complaint that a common carrier engaged in unlawful conduct, and to award damages when appropriate;
    • Section 214(b) grants a right “to be heard” to parties receiving Commission notice of a carrier request to construct, extend, acquire, operate, or discontinue service, and section 214(d) provides that the Commission may “after a full opportunity for hearing” require a carrier to provide itself with adequate facilities.Start Printed Page 53357

    4. The Commission has applied a variety of processes in these hearings. Traditionally, the Commission has designated most disputes concerning spectrum license applicants, permittees, or licensees under sections 309 and 312 for resolution in hearings before an administrative law judge using procedures similar to the formal adjudication provisions of the APA. By rule, the administrative law judge may grant a motion for summary decision on a written record only if “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact” and “a party is otherwise entitled to summary decision.” In contrast, the Commission has traditionally resolved section 204 hearings on the lawfulness of tariffs on a written record, and hearing rights for common carriers under section 214 are comparatively limited. The Commission has also delegated authority to the Enforcement Bureau to conduct hearings on section 208 complaints, in which all issues are resolved on a written record.

    5. Under certain circumstances, the Commission has taken steps to streamline its hearing processes even for spectrum licensing matters. In 1981, the Commission adopted a streamlined approach for evaluating competing initial cellular applications under section 309(e) on a written record. More recently, the Commission ruled that certain license renewal proceedings may be resolved in a written hearing proceeding administered by the Commission itself in lieu of an administrative law judge when there are no substantial issues of material fact or credibility issues. The Commission has likewise required parties to certain broadcast proceedings to submit all or a portion of their affirmative direct cases in writing where the presiding officer determines that doing so will contribute significantly to the disposition of the proceeding. The Commission also adopted expedited procedures under section 309(j)(5) permitting “employees other than [administrative law judges] to preside at the taking of written evidence.” Relatedly, the Commission has delegated authority to particular operating Bureaus to act on certain licensing and permitting applications when the relevant Bureau determines that the application raises no “substantial and material questions of fact.”

    6. To further streamline the Commission's hearing processes, we propose to codify and expand the Commission's use of hearings on a written record. The Commission's hearing rules provide that “[a]ny hearing upon an application shall be a full hearing in which the applicant and all other parties in interest shall be permitted to participate.” The Commission has on numerous occasions curtailed the use of oral testimony and cross examination in particular proceedings in order to expedite the hearing process. In our experience, disputes in Commission proceedings typically involve criticisms by one party of the evidence proffered by another party or the legal significance of that evidence, not actual conflicts in testimony between two witnesses concerning outcome determinative facts. Section 208 formal complaint proceedings amply demonstrate this point. We contemplate codifying and expanding the use of a written hearing process that can be used in most adjudicative proceedings, including those conducted by an administrative law judge. In particular, we propose to authorize the presiding officer to conduct a written hearing whenever factual disputes can be adequately resolved on a written record.

    7. We propose that the Commission may, in any order designating a matter for hearing (designation order), require the administrative law judge or other presiding officer to conduct a hearing on a written record. We also propose that, in the absence of such a directive in a designation order, the presiding officer may conduct the hearing on a written record on her own initiative or on motion of a party. The presiding officer should include the date for filing such a motion in the scheduling order issued following release of the designation order. We seek comment on these proposals and on whether any additional procedural safeguards are warranted in this regard. We note that our current hearing rules allow parties to take depositions, which enable parties to examine witnesses in a live setting and may render live testimony unnecessary at a hearing.

    8. We propose that parties in written hearing proceedings be required to file pleadings that include all evidence and arguments that support their respective positions. Consistent with the Commission's rules on summary decision and its formal complaint rules, such written submissions must be supported by evidence in the form of sworn statements based on personal knowledge and supporting documentation. The Commission, in its designation order, or the presiding officer will adopt a schedule for sequential filing of written evidentiary submissions. Enforcement Bureau staff will continue to represent the public interest in these proceedings and will have the opportunity, along with other interested parties, to file pleadings and submit evidence. We believe these procedures will expedite the resolution of hearing proceedings while safeguarding the rights of parties to a full and fair hearing. We seek comment on these proposals.

    9. We also propose to require parties to demonstrate why oral argument may be necessary in a case. In our experience, oral argument does not materially aid in the resolution of the vast majority of cases, and routinely accommodating requests for oral argument unnecessarily prolongs the resolution of hearing proceedings.

    10. Selection of a Presiding Officer. Each designation order will indicate whether the Commission itself, one or more Commissioners, or an administrative law judge will serve as the presiding officer. We tentatively conclude that the selection of a presiding officer should take into consideration who would “most fairly and reasonably accommodate” “the proper dispatch of [the Commission's] business and the ends of justice” in each case. To that end, we seek comment on if there are particular types of proceedings where it is or is not appropriate, on legal or policy grounds, for the Commission itself to serve as presiding officer. For example, if a case is likely to involve primarily interpretations of law or policy determinations, would the Commission itself be best suited to administer the hearing in such a case?

    11. The APA provisions governing formal hearing proceedings generally identify only the agency, one or more agency heads, or one or more administrative law judges among those who may preside at formal hearings, but no such limitation applies to informal adjudications under the APA. Similarly, although section 5(c)(1) of the Communications Act limits delegations of authority to conduct hearings to individuals identified in 5 U.S.C. 556(b)(2) (members of the agency) and (b)(3) (administrative law judges), that limitation expressly applies only to hearings subject to APA formal hearing requirements. Accordingly, although we are not proposing any rule changes in this regard, we seek comment on whether there are other officials on the Commission's staff who may serve as the presiding officer in suitable circumstances. Would directing such individuals to administer hearing proceedings expedite our hearings process by making available additional neutral qualified personnel to conduct Commission hearings? We will address any proposed rule changes on this issue in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding.Start Printed Page 53358

    12. We also propose to direct the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau to exercise certain authority previously held by the Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau, the former's predecessor bureau, under section 214 of the Act. In particular, the Commission “delegate[d] to the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, authority to issue orders revoking a common carrier's operating authority pursuant to [s]ection 214 of the Act, and to issue orders to cease and desist such operations, in cases where the Chief Administrative Law Judge, or the Presiding Officer designated, has issued a certification order to the Commission pursuant to [s]ection 1.92(c) of our rules that the carrier has waived its opportunity for hearing under that section.” We propose to direct the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau to issue such orders whenever the presiding officer assigned to a hearing proceeding determines that a common carrier has waived its opportunity for hearing. We seek comment on this proposal.

    13. Selection of a Case Manager. The Commission's current hearing rules provide that “[h]earings will be conducted by the Commission, by one or more commissioners, or by a law judge designated pursuant to section 11 of the [APA].” We seek comment on directing designated Commission staff to perform specific case management functions when the Commission itself serves as the presiding officer in a hearing proceeding. A case manager could issue scheduling orders, rule on discovery motions and other interlocutory matters, administer the intake of evidence, hold conferences in order to settle or simplify the issues, and certify the record for decision by the Commission at the conclusion of a hearing. Under this proposal, a case manager's responsibilities may include one or more of the duties that are typically performed by the presiding officer, but a case manager would not have authority to resolve any new or novel issues or to issue orders on the merits resolving any issue designated for hearing in a case. We tentatively conclude that this proposal would significantly expedite our hearing processes when the Commission designates itself as the presiding officer. We seek comment on this tentative conclusion and on the relevance to this proposal, if any, of the Appointments Clause to the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court's decision in Lucia v. SEC.

    14. We recognize that designated staff must demonstrate sufficient training and expertise to act as a case manager. We seek comment on the minimum training and qualifications, including adjudicatory and subject matter expertise, that individuals must possess to successfully perform this role. The Administrative Conference's “best practice” pertaining to presiding officer qualifications recommends that agencies “use adjudicators—rather than agency heads, boards, or panels—to conduct hearings and provide initial decisions[.]” Should this recommendation apply to Commission staff whose eligibility to act as a case manager is under consideration? We note that various staff within the Enforcement Bureau and the Commission's Office of General Counsel have extensive adjudicatory experience, and we therefore seek comment on whether we should direct particular staff within the Enforcement Bureau or Office of General Counsel to act as a case manager in hearing proceedings. We similarly seek comment on the qualifications of staff within the Commission's other bureaus to serve in this role.

    15. The case manager in a hearing should be neutral. In formal adjudications, the APA formal hearing provisions prohibit agency staff from performing both prosecutorial and decisional activities. This “separation of functions” principle shields agency decisionmakers from off-record presentations by staff who have presented evidence or argument on behalf of or against a party to a proceeding and prohibits such staff from participating in the hearing decision. The separation of functions requirement in section 409(c)(1) of the Communications Act, which applies to both formal and informal adjudications, prevents a person who has participated in the presentation of a case at a hearing or upon review from making any additional presentation respecting such case to the presiding officer or to any authority within the Commission performing a review function, absent notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. The Administrative Conference recommends that agencies require internal separation of decisional and adversarial personnel in adjudications that are not subject to formal APA hearing requirements. In this context, an “adversary” refers to a staff member who took an active part in investigating, prosecuting, or advocating in the same case.

    16. We propose to adopt the Administrative Conference's recommendation to “prohibit staff who took an active part in investigating, prosecuting, or advocating in a case” from serving as a case manager and from advising or assisting the case manager “in that same case.” Thus, we propose that staff who participated in identifying the specific issues designated for hearing; staff who take an active part in investigating, prosecuting, or advocating in a case; and staff who are expected to investigate and act upon petitions to deny (including administrative challenges thereto) may not serve as the case manager in that case. We seek comment on these proposals.

    17. Unless otherwise designated, Commission hearings are “restricted” proceedings and thus ex parte presentations to or from Commission decision-making personnel are prohibited. “Decision-making personnel” include “[a]ny member, officer, or employee of the Commission . . . who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in formulating a decision, rule or order in a proceeding.” Decision-making personnel also include “[u]nseparated Bureau or Office staff . . . with respect to decisions, rules, and orders in which their Bureau or Office participates in enacting, preparing, or reviewing.” We tentatively conclude that any Commission staff serving as a case manager in a case should be considered “decision-making personnel” for purposes of our ex parte rules. Finally, we tentatively conclude that the existing definition of “ex parte presentation” in section 1.1202 of the Commission's rules would continue to apply. We seek comment on these tentative conclusions and on whether other or additional measures are needed to ensure the impartiality of staff serving as the case manager.

    18. Dispensing with Initial Decision When Appropriate. Section 409(a) of the Communications Act generally requires that the presiding officer prepare an initial, tentative, or recommended decision. With limited exceptions, the Commission's rules likewise state that “the presiding officer shall prepare an initial (or recommended) decision” at the close of a hearing. Upon agreement of the parties or where the Commission finds “that due and timely execution of its functions imperatively and unavoidably so requires,” however, “the Commission may direct that the record in a pending proceeding be certified to it for initial or final decision.”

    19. We seek comment on whether the Commission should forego initial decisions whenever it serves as the presiding officer at a hearing, including cases in which the Commission directs that the record of the proceeding be certified to it for decision. Initial decisions have no apparent utility when the Commission is the presiding officer. Start Printed Page 53359Dispensing with initial decisions under these circumstances would greatly promote efficient resolution of disputes. We seek comment on this proposal. Although the APA's formal hearing requirements do not apply here, we note that they authorize agencies to require an administrative law judge to certify the record for decision by the agency without an initial decision. We seek comment on whether a case manager could likewise certify the hearing record for decision directly by the Commission.

    20. Evidentiary Rules. The Commission's current hearing rules provide that the Federal Rules of Evidence (28 U.S.C. Rules 101-1103) govern Commission hearings, but that these rules may be “relaxed if the ends of justice will be better served by so doing.” In practice, however, the Federal Rules of Evidence are not necessarily applied and instead serve merely as guidelines in determining the admissibility of evidence. This lack of clarity as to the relevant evidentiary standard has the potential to cause confusion for parties and to lead to evidentiary disputes between those who expect the Federal Rules of Evidence to apply and those who seek to avoid their application in a particular case.

    21. We propose to amend this rule and adopt the more permissive evidentiary standard in the formal APA hearing requirements, which states, in relevant part, that “the agency as a matter of policy shall provide for the exclusion of irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.” We seek comment on this proposal and on the conclusion of the Asimow Report that the more lenient standard in 5 U.S.C. 556(d) will result in fewer time-consuming disputes over “esoteric rules of evidence, such as the many exceptions to the hearsay rule,” and will be simpler for self-represented parties to navigate.

    22. Proposed Rule Changes. Several rule changes are proposed in this proceeding. Specifically, we propose to add sections 1.370-1.377 to our Part 1 hearing rules to establish procedures for hearings to be resolved on a written record. We otherwise generally retain the current Part 0 and Part 1 hearing related rules with the proposed modifications. We seek comment on these proposed rules and on any other changes necessary to conform our rules to these proposals.

    23. Related Issues. Finally, we seek comment on any other proposed rule changes that would streamline or expedite the Commission's hearing processes. We may address any such proposals in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding.

    24. Legal Authority. The Commission has broad authority “[to] conduct its proceedings in such manner as will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and to the ends of justice.” Congress “left largely to [the Commission's] judgment the determination of the manner of conducting its business which would most fairly and reasonably accommodate” the ends of justice.

    25. In PBGC v. LTV Corp., the Supreme Court identified three potential sources of procedural requirements for agency hearings—the APA, the agency's governing statute, and the Due Process Clause. “[C]ourts are not free to impose upon agencies specific procedural requirements that have no basis in” those sources.

    26. The APA prescribes procedural standards governing formal and informal adjudications before federal agencies. The APA provisions governing formal adjudications appear in sections 554, 556, and 557 of title 5, 74 which require a formal hearing process that includes elements of a judicial trial in a civil action. Informal adjudication commonly refers to procedures for conducting cases when formal adjudication is not required. The APA prescribes minimum procedural requirements for informal adjudications. Section 555 of title 5 requires only that an agency afford participants the right to appear with counsel, the right to procure copies or transcripts of any evidence they have provided, and prompt notice of, and grounds for, the agency's denial of an application or petition. Section 558(c) includes certain additional procedures specific to proceedings involving licenses or other agency authorizations. That section generally requires an agency, prior to instituting proceedings to suspend or revoke a license, to provide the licensee with written notice of the facts that may warrant the agency's contemplated action and an opportunity to demonstrate compliance with all lawful requirements.

    27. The APA, by itself, does not establish when agencies must follow the formal hearing procedures in Sections 554, 556, and 557. Instead, agencies must apply the APA in conjunction with the relevant enabling statute and use formal hearing procedures in “every case of adjudication required by statute to be determined on the record after opportunity for an agency hearing.” Where an agency's enabling statute does not expressly require an “on the record” hearing and, instead, calls simply for a “hearing,” a “full hearing,” or uses similar terminology, the statute does not trigger the APA formal adjudication procedures absent clear evidence of congressional intent to impose the full panoply of trial type procedures of a formal hearing.

    28. No express “on the record” language appears in the Communications Act's hearing provisions that would trigger the APA formal adjudication requirements. In addition, nothing in the text of the Act unambiguously requires trial-type hearings in all such proceedings. When Congress intended to require the Commission to conduct formal adjudication under the APA, it said so explicitly—section 503 of the Communications Act authorizes the Commission to impose a forfeiture penalty on a person after “a hearing before the Commission or an administrative law judge thereof in accordance with section 554 of” the APA. Consequently, we tentatively conclude that Commission hearings generally are subject only to the APA's informal adjudication requirements.

    29. We also believe that the streamlined procedures proposed in this NPRM comport with any constitutional due process requirements that may apply, as articulated by the Supreme Court in Mathews v. Eldridge. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “No person shall . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The essential elements of due process are notice and an opportunity to be heard when a governmental decision places an individual's “liberty” or “property” interests in jeopardy. The government must give a party an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner before depriving the party of a protected interest. In Mathews v. Eldridge, the Supreme Court held that: [I]dentification of the specific dictates of due process generally requires consideration of three distinct factors: [1] The private interest that will be affected by the official action; [2] the risk of an erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used, and the probable value, if any, of additional . . . procedural safeguards; and [3] the Government's interest, including . . . the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional . . . procedural requirement would entail.

    30. Courts have applied the Mathews v. Eldridge balancing test to determine whether, in the absence of a statutory requirement to conduct a formal “on the record” APA hearing, due process requires a trial-type hearing. In Start Printed Page 53360 Chemical Waste Management, the D.C. Circuit held that the Environmental Protection Agency was not required to conduct a trial-type hearing before issuing a “corrective action order” because “formal procedures do not promise a sufficient lowering of the risk of error to justify their significant expense to the Government.” In California ex rel. Lockyer v. FERC, the Ninth Circuit upheld the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a utility's reorganization in an informal hearing “[i]n light of the private interests affected, the small risk of erroneous deprivation through the procedures used, and the government's strong interest in expedient decision making.” And in Blumenthal v. FERC, the D.C. Circuit upheld FERC's approval of a utility's executive compensation plan without a trial-type hearing, noting that “[t]his Court has never held that an in-person evidentiary hearing is constitutionally required whenever FERC makes decisions. Indeed, we have frequently suggested the opposite.”

    31. In other recent opinions, courts have found that agencies may resolve factual disputes on a written record. In a series of cases involving FERC, the D.C. Circuit has consistently held that “[e]ven when there are disputed factual issues, FERC does not need to conduct an evidentiary hearing if it can adequately resolve the issues on a written record.” We therefore tentatively conclude that the Commission need not conduct an oral hearing if it can adequately resolve factual disputes on a written record.

    32. Although the D.C. Circuit has upheld an agency's resolution of an issue of intent on a written record, the court has suggested in dicta in other cases that it may be inappropriate for an agency to resolve issues of intent or motive on a written record in certain circumstances. We seek comment on what those circumstances may be. For example, we seek comment on when the Commission cannot, consistent with the Mathews v. Eldridge balancing test, decide a motive, intent, or credibility issue on a written record, bearing in mind that the existence of such an issue is but one factor to be considered in applying the due process balancing test. We note that when an agency reviews an administrative law judge's initial decision, the agency is not bound by the judge's findings of fact, and may reject the judge's credibility findings as long as the agency's decision is supported by substantial evidence. What is the additional benefit of a trial-type hearing when the Commission ultimately reviews initial decisions on a written record and can overrule an administrative law judge's credibility determinations when evidence in the written record supports the Commission's decision? We seek comment on whether that benefit, if any, outweighs the government's legitimate interests in expediting resolution of proceedings and avoiding the expense of a trial-type hearing.

    33. We emphasize that when we designate a matter for hearing on a written record, we intend to give parties a “full” hearing, with ample notice of the issues under consideration, an opportunity to present all evidence and arguments that support the parties' respective positions, and an opportunity to confront and rebut opposing evidence and arguments. To that end, we seek comment on the Administrative Conference's recommended “best practices” for agency hearings that are not subject to APA formal hearing requirements (referred to herein as informal hearings), and whether and how to incorporate those recommendations in our rules.

    34. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, see 5 U.S.C. 603, the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification reflecting its analysis that there will be no significant economic impact on small entities by the implementation of the policies and rules addressed in this NPRM. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA), requires that an initial regulatory flexibility analysis be prepared for notice-and-comment rule making proceedings, unless the agency certifies that “the rule will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.” The RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,” “small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.” In addition, the term “small business” has the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act. A “small business concern” is one which: (1) Is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

    35. In this NPRM, the Commission seeks comment on proposals to expedite and streamline the Commission's hearing processes. The proposed rule changes stem from longstanding criticisms of the Commission's current trial-type hearings as costly, burdensome, and, in many cases, unnecessary. The proposals upon which the NPRM seeks comment are designed to supplement the Commission's current formal hearing processes by allowing the Commission to select the personnel and procedures that are best suited to the issues raised in a particular case and that will achieve the purposes of that hearing without undue cost or delay. These procedures, if adopted, would establish an alternative path for resolving hearing proceedings in appropriate cases.

    36. The Commission estimates that the rule changes proposed in this NPRM would reduce the time and attendant costs associated with hearing proceedings for the Commission and for applicants, petitioners, and other parties. In particular, the NPRM proposes to (1) codify and expand the use of a “written hearing” process that would rely on written testimony and documentary evidence in lieu of live testimony and cross-examination unless the designated presiding officer determines that oral testimony is needed to resolve any issues; (2) direct designated Commission staff to act as a case manager that would supervise the development of the written hearing record when the Commission designates itself as the presiding officer in a hearing proceeding; and (3) dispense with the preparation of an intermediate opinion whenever the record of a proceeding can be certified to the Commission for final decision. The NPRM tentatively concludes that the proposed procedures will expedite the Commission's hearing processes while ensuring appropriate standards of transparency and procedural fairness. It seeks comment on various aspect of these proposals and on any alternative approaches.

    37. The Commission believes that the proposals on which it seeks comment in this NPRM would reduce costs and burdens currently shouldered by parties to hearing proceedings in certain cases, including small entities. Because only a small percentage of matters before the Commission necessitate a hearing, we anticipate that the number of small entities impacted would not be substantial for RFA purposes. In addition, the proposed modifications to the hearing rules in this NPRM do not propose substantive new responsibilities for regulated entities or for potential parties to Commission hearings. Therefore, we certify that the proposals in this NPRM, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

    38. The Commission will send a copy of the NPRM, including a copy of this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification, to the Chief Counsel for Start Printed Page 53361Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. This initial certification will also be published in the Federal Register.

    39. Paperwork Reduction Act. This document does not contain any proposed new information collection(s) subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

    40. Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with Section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules. In proceedings governed by Section 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable.pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

    41. Ordering Clauses. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to the authority found in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 5, 9, 214, 303, 309, 312, 316, and 409 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 159, 214, 303, 309, 312, 316, and 409, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is adopted.

    42. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 0, 1, and 76

    • Administrative practice and procedure
    End List of Subjects Start Signature

    Federal Communications Commission.

    Marlene Dortch,

    Secretary.

    End Signature

    Proposed Rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR parts 0, 1, and 76 as follows:

    Start Part

    PART 0—COMMISSION ORGANIZATION

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    1. The authority citation for part 0 is revised to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 225, and 409, unless otherwise noted.

    End Authority

    Subpart A—[Amended]

    Start Amendment Part

    2. Amend Subpart A by revising the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 225, and 409, unless otherwise noted.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    3. Amend § 0.5 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    General description of Commission organization and operations.
    * * * * *

    (c) Delegations of authority to the staff. Pursuant to section 5(c) of the Communications Act, the Commission has delegated authority to its staff to act on matters which are minor or routine or settled in nature and those in which immediate action may be necessary. See subpart B of this part. Actions taken under delegated authority are subject to review by the Commission, on its own motion or on an application for review filed by a person aggrieved by the action. Except for the possibility of review, actions taken under delegated authority have the same force and effect as actions taken by the Commission. The delegation of authority to a staff officer, however, does not mean that the staff officer will exercise that authority in all matters subject to the delegation. The staff is at liberty to refer any matter at any stage to the Commission for action, upon concluding that it involves matters warranting the Commission's consideration, and the Commission may instruct the staff to do so.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    4. Amend § 0.91 by adding paragraph (q) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Functions of the Bureau.
    * * * * *

    (q) Issue orders revoking a common carrier's operating authority pursuant to section 214 of the Act, and issue orders to cease and desist such operations, in cases where the presiding officer has issued a certification order to the Commission pursuant to § 1.92(c) of our rules that the carrier has waived its opportunity for hearing under that section.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    5. Amend § 0.111 by revising paragraphs (a)(18) and (b) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Functions of the Bureau.

    (a) * * *

    (18) Issue or draft orders taking or recommending appropriate action in response to complaints or investigations, including, but not limited to, admonishments, damage awards where authorized by law or other affirmative relief, notices of violation, notices of apparent liability and related orders, notices of opportunity for hearing regarding a potential forfeiture, hearing designation orders, orders designating licenses or other authorizations for a revocation hearing and consent decrees. Issue or draft appropriate orders after a hearing proceeding has been terminated by the presiding officer on the basis of waiver. Issue or draft appropriate interlocutory orders and take or recommend appropriate action in the exercise of its responsibilities.

    * * * * *

    (b) Serve as trial staff in hearing proceedings conducted pursuant to § 1.201(a) regarding applications, revocation, forfeitures and other matters designated for hearing.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    6. Revise § 0.151 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Functions of the Office.

    The Office of Administrative Law Judges consists of as many Administrative Law Judges qualified and appointed pursuant to the Start Printed Page 53362requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3105 as the Commission may find necessary. It is responsible for hearing and conducting adjudicatory cases designated for hearing other than those designated to be heard by the Commission en banc, or by one or more commissioners. The Office of Administrative Law Judges is also responsible for conducting such other hearing proceedings as the Commission may assign.

    Subpart B—[Amended]

    Start Amendment Part

    7. Amend Subpart B by revising the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 225, and 409.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    8. Amend § 0.201 by revising paragraph (a)(2) and removing the Note to paragraph (a)(2) as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    General provisions.

    (a) * * *

    (2) Delegations to rule on interlocutory matters in hearing proceedings. Delegations in this category are made to any person, other than the Commission, designated to serve as the presiding officer in a hearing proceeding pursuant to § 1.241.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    9. Revise § 0.341 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Authority of Administrative Law Judges and other presiding officers designated under § 1.241.

    (a) After a presiding officer (other than the Commission) has been designated to conduct a hearing proceeding, and until he or she has issued an initial decision or certified the record to the Commission for decision, or the proceeding has been transferred to another presiding officer, all motions, petitions and other matters that may arise during the proceeding shall be acted upon by such presiding officer, except those which are to be acted upon by the Commission. See § 1.291(a)(1) of this chapter.

    (b) Any question which would be acted upon by the presiding officer if it were raised by the parties to the proceeding may be raised and acted upon by the presiding officer on his or her own motion.

    (c) Any question which would be acted upon by the presiding officer (other than the Commission) may be certified to the Commission on the presiding officer's own motion.

    (d) Except for actions taken during the course of a hearing and upon the record thereof, actions taken by a presiding officer pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be recorded in writing and filed in the official record of the proceeding.

    (e) The presiding officer may waive any rule governing the conduct of Commission hearings upon motion or upon the presiding officer's own motion for good cause, subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

    (f) The presiding officer may issue such orders and conduct such proceedings as will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and the ends of justice.

    (g)(1) For program carriage complaints filed pursuant to § 76.1302 of this chapter that the Chief, Media Bureau refers to a presiding officer for an initial decision, the presiding officer shall release an initial decision in compliance with one of the following deadlines:

    (i) 240 calendar days after a party informs the presiding officer that it elects not to pursue alternative dispute resolution as set forth in § 76.7(g)(2) of this chapter; or

    (ii) If the parties have mutually elected to pursue alternative dispute resolution pursuant to § 76.7(g)(2) of this chapter, within 240 calendar days after the parties inform the presiding officer that they have failed to resolve their dispute through alternative dispute resolution.

    (2) The presiding officer may toll these deadlines under the following circumstances:

    (i) If the complainant and defendant jointly request that the presiding officer toll these deadlines in order to pursue settlement discussions or alternative dispute resolution or for any other reason that the complainant and defendant mutually agree justifies tolling; or

    (ii) If complying with the deadline would violate the due process rights of a party or would be inconsistent with fundamental fairness; or

    (iii) In extraordinary situations, due to a lack of adjudicatory resources available at the time.

    Start Amendment Part

    10. Revise § 0.347 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Record of actions taken.

    The record of actions taken by a presiding officer, including initial and recommended decisions and actions taken pursuant to § 0.341, is available through the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). ECFS serves as the repository for records in the Commission's docketed proceedings from 1992 to the present. The public may use ECFS to retrieve all such records, as well as selected pre-1992 documents. The Office of the Secretary maintains copies of documents that include nonpublic information.

    [Removed and reserved]
    Start Amendment Part

    11. Remove and reserve §§ 0.351 and 0.357.

    End Amendment Part Start Part

    PART 1—PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    12. The authority citation for part 1 is revised to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, unless otherwise noted.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    13. Amend § 1.21 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Parties.
    * * * * *

    (d) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, a duly authorized corporate officer or employee may act for the corporation in any matter which has not been designated for hearing and, in the discretion of the presiding officer, may appear and be heard on behalf of the corporation in a hearing proceeding.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    14. Amend § 1.49 by revising paragraphs (f)(1)(vii) and (viii), and adding paragraph (f)(1)(ix) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Specifications as to pleadings and documents.
    * * * * *

    (f)(1) * * *

    (vii) Domestic Section 214 discontinuance applications pursuant to §§ 63.63 and/or 63.71 of this chapter;

    (viii) Notices of network change and associated certifications pursuant to § 51.325 et seq. of this chapter; and

    (ix) Hearing proceedings under §§ 1.201 through 1.377.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    15. Amend § 1.51 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Number of copies of pleadings, briefs, and other papers.

    (a) In hearing proceedings, all pleadings, letters, documents, or other written submissions, shall be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System, excluding confidential material as set forth in § 1.314 of these rules. An original and one copy of each written submission that includes confidential material shall be filed, along with an additional copy for each additional presiding officer, if more than one. Additional courtesy copies of electronically filed submissions shall be emailed as directed by the Commission.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    16. Amend § 1.80 by revising the introductory text of paragraph (g) and paragraphs (g)(1) and (3) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Start Printed Page 53363
    Forfeiture proceedings.
    * * * * *

    (g) Notice of opportunity for hearing. The procedures set out in this paragraph apply only when a formal hearing under section 503(b)(3)(A) of the Communications Act is being held to determine whether to assess a forfeiture penalty.

    (1) Before imposing a forfeiture penalty, the Commission may, in its discretion, issue a notice of opportunity for hearing. The formal hearing proceeding shall be conducted by an administrative law judge under procedures set out in subpart B of this part, including procedures for appeal and review of initial decisions. A final Commission order assessing a forfeiture under the provisions of this paragraph is subject to judicial review under section 402(a) of the Communications Act.

    * * * * *

    (3) Where the possible assessment of a forfeiture is an issue in a hearing proceeding to determine whether a pending application should be granted, and the application is dismissed pursuant to a settlement agreement or otherwise, and the presiding judge has not made a determination on the forfeiture issue, the presiding judge shall forward the order of dismissal to the attention of the full Commission. Within the time provided by § 1.117, the Commission may, on its own motion, proceed with a determination of whether a forfeiture against the applicant is warranted. If the Commission so proceeds, it will provide the applicant with a reasonable opportunity to respond to the forfeiture issue (see paragraph (f)(3) of this section) and make a determination under the procedures outlined in paragraph (f) of this section.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    17. Revise § 1.85 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Suspension of operator licenses.

    Whenever grounds exist for suspension of an operator license, as provided in § 303(m) of the Communications Act, the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, with respect to amateur and commercial radio operator licenses, may issue an order suspending the operator license. No order of suspension of any operator's license shall take effect until 15 days' notice in writing of the cause for the proposed suspension has been given to the operator licensee, who may make written application to the Commission at any time within the said 15 days for a hearing upon such order. The notice to the operator licensee shall not be effective until actually received by the operator licensee, and from that time the operator licensee shall have 15 days in which to mail the said application. In the event that physical conditions prevent mailing of the application before the expiration of the 15-day period, the application shall then be mailed as soon as possible thereafter, accompanied by a satisfactory explanation of the delay. Upon receipt by the Commission of such application for hearing, said order of suspension shall be designated for hearing and said suspension shall be held in abeyance until the conclusion of the hearing proceeding. If the license is ordered suspended, the operator shall send his, her, or its operator license to the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, in Washington, DC, on or before the effective date of the order, or, if the effective date has passed at the time notice is received, the license shall be sent to the Commission forthwith.

    Start Amendment Part

    18. Amend § 1.87 by revising paragraphs (e) and (f), and the introductory text of paragraph (g) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Modification of license or construction permit on motion of the Commission.
    * * * * *

    (e) In any case where a hearing proceeding is conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section, both the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be upon the Commission except that, with respect to any issue that pertains to the question of whether the proposed action would modify the license or permit of a person filing a protest pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, such burdens shall be as described by the Commission.

    (f) In order to utilize the right to a hearing and the opportunity to give evidence upon the issues specified in any order designating a matter for hearing, any licensee, or permittee, itself or by counsel, shall, within the period of time as may be specified in that order, file with the Commission a written appearance stating that it will present evidence on the matters specified in the order and, if required, appear before the presiding officer at a date and time to be determined.

    (g) The right to file a protest or the right to a hearing proceeding shall, unless good cause is shown in a petition to be filed not later than 5 days before the lapse of time specified in paragraph (a) or (f) of this section, be deemed waived:

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    19. Amend § 1.91 by revising paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Revocation and/or cease and desist proceedings; hearings.
    * * * * *

    (b) An order to show cause why an order of revocation and/or a cease and desist order should not be issued will designate for hearing the matters with respect to which the Commission is inquiring and will call upon the person to whom it is directed (the respondent) to file with the Commission a written appearance stating that the respondent will present evidence upon the matters specified in the order to show cause and, if required, appear before a presiding officer at a time and place to be determined, but no earlier than thirty days after the receipt of such order. However, if safety of life or property is involved, the order to show cause may specify a deadline of less than thirty days from the receipt of such order.

    (c) To avail themselves of such opportunity for a hearing, respondents, personally or by counsel, shall file with the Commission, within twenty days of the mailing of the order or such shorter period as may be specified therein, a written appearance stating that they will present evidence on the matters specified in the order and, if required, appear before the presiding officer at a time and place to be determined. The presiding officer in his or her discretion may accept a late-filed appearance. However, a written appearance tendered after the specified time has expired will not be accepted unless accompanied by a petition stating with particularity the facts and reasons relied on to justify such late filing. Such petition for acceptance of a late-filed appearance will be granted only if the presiding officer determines that the facts and reasons stated therein constitute good cause for failure to file on time.

    (d) Hearing proceedings on the matters specified in such orders to show cause shall accord with the practice and procedure prescribed in this subpart and subpart B of this part, with the following exceptions: (1) In all such revocation and/or cease and desist hearings, the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence and the burden of proof shall be upon the Commission; and (2) the Commission may specify in a show cause order, when the circumstances of the proceeding require expedition, a time less than that prescribed in §§ 1.276 and 1.277 within which the initial decision in the proceeding shall become effective, exceptions to such initial decision must be filed, parties must file Start Printed Page 53364requests for oral argument, and parties must file notice of intention to participate in oral argument.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    20. Amend § 1.92 by revising paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Revocation and/or cease and desist proceedings; after waiver of hearing.

    (a) After the issuance of an order to show cause, pursuant to § 1.91, designating a matter for hearing, the occurrence of any one of the following events or circumstances will constitute a waiver of such hearing and the proceeding thereafter will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section.

    (1) The respondent fails to file a timely written appearance as prescribed in § 1.91(c) indicating that the respondent will present evidence on the matters specified in the order and, if required by the order, that the respondent will appear before the presiding officer.

    (2) The respondent, having filed a timely written appearance as prescribed in § 1.91(c), fails in fact to present evidence on the matters specified in the order or appear before the presiding officer in person or by counsel at the time and place duly scheduled.

    (3) The respondent files with the Commission, within the time specified for a written appearance in § 1.91(c), a written statement expressly waiving his or her rights to a hearing.

    * * * * *

    (c) Whenever a hearing is waived by the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances listed in paragraph (a) of this section, the presiding officer shall, at the earliest practicable date, issue an order reciting the events or circumstances constituting a waiver of hearing and terminating the hearing proceeding. A presiding officer other than the Commission also shall certify the case to the Commission. Such order shall be served upon the respondent.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    21. Amend § 1.93 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Consent orders.

    (a) As used in this subpart, a “consent order” is a formal decree accepting an agreement between a party to an adjudicatory hearing proceeding held to determine whether that party has violated statutes or Commission rules or policies and the appropriate operating Bureau, with regard to such party's future compliance with such statutes, rules or policies, and disposing of all issues on which the proceeding was designated for hearing. The order is issued by the officer designated to preside at the hearing proceeding.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    22. Amend § 1.94 by revising paragraphs (d) and (g) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Consent order procedures.
    * * * * *

    (d) If agreement is reached, it shall be submitted to the presiding officer, who shall either sign the order, reject the agreement, or suggest to the parties that negotiations continue on such portion of the agreement as the presiding officer considers unsatisfactory or on matters not reached in the agreement. If the presiding officer signs the consent order, the record shall be closed. If the presiding officer rejects the agreement, the hearing proceeding shall continue. If the presiding officer suggests further negotiations and the parties agree to resume negotiating, the presiding officer may, in his or her discretion, decide whether to hold the hearing proceeding in abeyance pending the negotiations.

    * * * * *

    (g) Consent orders, pleadings relating thereto, and Commission orders with respect thereto shall be served on parties to the proceeding. Public notice will be given of orders issued by the Commission or by the presiding officer. Negotiating papers constitute work product, are available to parties participating in negotiations, but are not routinely available for public inspection.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    23. Amend § 1.104 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Preserving the right of review; deferred consideration of application for review.

    (a) The provisions of this section apply to all final actions taken pursuant to delegated authority, including final actions taken by members of the Commission's staff on nonhearing matters. They do not apply to interlocutory actions of a presiding officer in hearing proceedings, or to orders designating a matter for hearing issued under delegated authority. See §§ 1.106(a) and 1.115(e).

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    24. Amend § 1.115 by removing paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2), redesignating paragraph (e)(3) as paragraph (e)(1) and paragraph (e)(4) as paragraph (e)(2), and revising newly redesignated paragraph (e)(1) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Application for review of action taken pursuant to delegated authority.
    * * * * *

    (e)(1) Applications for review of an order designating a matter for hearing that was issued under delegated authority shall be deferred until exceptions to the initial decision in the case are filed, unless the presiding officer certifies such an application for review to the Commission. A matter shall be certified to the Commission if the presiding officer determines that the matter involves a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that immediate consideration of the question would materially expedite the ultimate resolution of the litigation. A request to certify a matter to the Commission shall be filed with the presiding officer within 5 days after the designation order is released. A ruling refusing to certify a matter to the Commission is not appealable. Any application for review authorized by the presiding officer shall be filed within 5 days after the order certifying the matter to the Commission is released or such a ruling is made. Oppositions shall be filed within 5 days after the application for review is filed. Replies to oppositions shall be filed only if they are requested by the Commission. Replies (if allowed) shall be filed within 5 days after they are requested. The Commission may dismiss, without stating reasons, an application for review that has been certified, and direct that the objections to the order designating the matter for hearing be deferred and raised when exceptions in the initial decision in the case are filed.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    25. Amend § 1.201 by redesignating the Note as Note 2 to § 1.201 and adding Note 1 to § 1.201 and revising the newly redesignating Note 2 to § 1.201 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Scope.
    * * * * *

    Note 1 to § 1.201:

    For special provisions relating to hearing proceedings under this subpart that the Commission determines shall be conducted and resolved on a written record, see §§ 1.370-1.377.

    Note 2 to § 1.201:

    For special provisions relating to AM broadcast station applications involving other North American countries see § 73.23.

    Start Amendment Part

    26. Revise § 1.202 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Official reporter; transcript.

    The Commission will designate an official reporter for the recording and transcribing of hearing proceedings as necessary. Transcripts will be transmitted to the Secretary for inclusion in the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System.Start Printed Page 53365

    Start Amendment Part

    27. Revise § 1.203 and the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    The record.

    The evidence submitted by the parties, together with all papers and requests filed in the proceeding and any transcripts, shall constitute the exclusive record for decision. Where any decision rests on official notice of a material fact not appearing in the record, any party shall on timely request be afforded an opportunity to show the contrary. (5 U.S.C. 556; 47 U.S.C. 154, 159, 208, 209, 214, 309, 312, 316, and 409)

    Start Amendment Part

    28. Revise § 1.209 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Identification of responsible officer in caption to pleading.
    Start Amendment Part

    29. Each pleading filed in a hearing proceeding shall indicate in its caption whether it is to be acted upon by the Commission or, if the Commission is not the presiding officer, by the presiding officer. Unless it is to be acted upon by the Commission, the presiding officer shall be identified by name.

    End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part

    30. Add § 1.210 to Subpart B to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part

    Subpart B—Hearing Proceedings

    Electronic filing.

    All pleadings filed in a hearing proceeding, as well as all letters, documents, or other written submissions, shall be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System, excluding confidential material as set forth in § 1.314 of these rules. A courtesy copy of all submissions shall be contemporaneously provided to the presiding officer via electronic mail.

    Start Amendment Part

    31. Amend § 1.221 by revising paragraphs (b) through (e), removing paragraphs (f) and (g), revising and redesignating paragraph (h) as paragraph (f), and revising the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Notice of hearing; appearances.
    * * * * *

    (b) The order designating an application for hearing shall be mailed to the applicant and the order, or a summary thereof, shall be published in the Federal Register. Reasonable notice of hearing will be given to the parties in all proceedings.

    (c) In order to avail themselves of the opportunity to be heard, applicants or their attorney shall file, within 20 days of the mailing of the order designating a matter for hearing, a written appearance stating that the applicant will present evidence on the matters specified in the order and, if required by the order, appear before the presiding officer at a date and time to be determined. Where an applicant fails to file such a written appearance within the time specified, or has not filed prior to the expiration of that time a petition to dismiss without prejudice, or a petition to accept, for good cause shown, such written appearance beyond expiration of said 20 days, the application will be dismissed with prejudice for failure to prosecute.

    (d) The Commission will on its own motion name as parties to the hearing proceeding any person found to be a party in interest.

    (e) In order to avail themselves of the opportunity to be heard, any persons named as parties pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section shall, within 20 days of the mailing of the order designating them as parties to a hearing proceeding, file personally or by attorney a written appearance that they will present evidence on the matters specified in the order and, if required by the order, appear before the presiding officer at a date and time to be determined. Any persons so named who fail to file this written appearance within the time specified, shall, unless good cause for such failure is shown, forfeit their hearing rights.

    (f)(1) For program carriage complaints filed pursuant to § 76.1302 of this chapter that the Chief, Media Bureau refers to a presiding officer, each party, in person or by attorney, shall file a written appearance within five calendar days after the party informs the presiding officer that it elects not to pursue alternative dispute resolution pursuant to § 76.7(g)(2) of this chapter or, if the parties have mutually elected to pursue alternative dispute resolution pursuant to § 76.7(g)(2) of this chapter, within five calendar days after the parties inform the presiding officer that they have failed to resolve their dispute through alternative dispute resolution. The written appearance shall state that the party will appear for hearing and present evidence on the issues specified in the hearing designation order.

    (2) If the complainant fails to file a written appearance by this deadline, or fails to file prior to the deadline either a petition to dismiss the proceeding without prejudice or a petition to accept, for good cause shown, a written appearance beyond such deadline, the presiding officer shall dismiss the complaint with prejudice for failure to prosecute.

    (3) If the defendant fails to file a written appearance by this deadline, or fails to file prior to this deadline a petition to accept, for good cause shown, a written appearance beyond such deadline, its opportunity to present evidence at hearing will be deemed to have been waived. If the hearing is so waived, the presiding officer shall expeditiously terminate the proceeding and certify to the Commission the complaint for resolution based on the existing record. When the Commission has designated itself as the presiding officer, it shall expeditiously terminate the proceeding and resolve the complaint based on the existing record.

    (5 U.S.C. 554; 47 U.S.C. 154, 159, 208, 209, 214, 309, 312, 316, and 409)
    Start Amendment Part

    32. Revise § 1.223 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Petitions to intervene.

    (a) Where the order designating a matter for hearing has failed to notify and name as a party to the hearing proceeding any person who qualifies as a party in interest, such person may acquire the status of a party by filing, under oath and not more than 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register of the hearing issues or any substantial amendment thereto, a petition for intervention showing the basis of its interest. Where the person's status as a party in interest is established, the petition to intervene will be granted.

    (b) Any other person desiring to participate as a party in any hearing proceeding may file a petition for leave to intervene not later than 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register of the full text or a summary of the order designating the matter for hearing or any substantial amendment thereto. The petition must set forth the interest of petitioner in the proceedings, must show how such petitioner's participation will assist the Commission in the determination of the issues in question, must set forth any proposed issues in addition to those already designated for hearing, and must be accompanied by the affidavit of a person with knowledge as to the facts set forth in the petition. The presiding officer, in his or her discretion, may grant or deny such petition or may permit intervention by such persons limited to a particular stage of the proceeding.

    (c) Any person desiring to file a petition for leave to intervene later than 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register of the full text or a summary of the order designating the matter for hearing or any substantial amendment thereto shall set forth the interest of petitioner in the proceeding, show how such petitioner's participation will assist the Commission in the determination of the issues in question, must set forth any proposed issues in addition to those already designated for hearing, and must set Start Printed Page 53366forth reasons why it was not possible to file a petition within the time prescribed by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. If, in the opinion of the presiding officer, good cause is shown for the delay in filing, the presiding officer may in his or her discretion grant such petition or may permit intervention limited to particular issues or to a particular stage of the proceeding.

    (Sec. 309, 48 Stat. 1085, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 309)
    Start Amendment Part

    33. Amend § 1.225 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Participation by non-parties; consideration of communications.
    * * * * *

    (b) No persons shall be precluded from giving any relevant, material, and competent testimony because they lack a sufficient interest to justify their intervention as parties in the matter.

    (c) No communication will be considered in determining the merits of any matter unless it has been received into evidence. The admissibility of any communication shall be governed by the applicable rules of evidence in § 1.351, and no communication shall be admissible on the basis of a stipulation unless Commission counsel as well as counsel for all of the parties shall join in such stipulation.

    Start Amendment Part

    34. Revise § 1.227 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Consolidations.

    The Commission, upon motion or upon its own motion, may, where such action will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and to the ends of justice, consolidate in a hearing proceeding any cases that involve the same applicant or substantially the same issues, or that present conflicting claims.

    Start Amendment Part

    35. Amend § 1.229 by removing paragraphs (b)(1) and (e), redesignating paragraph (b)(2) as (b)(1), redesignating paragraph (b)(3) as (b)(2), redesignating paragraph (f) as paragraph (e), and revising paragraph (a) and redesignated paragraphs (b)(1), (2), and (e) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Motions to enlarge, change, or delete issues.

    (a) A motion to enlarge, change or delete the issues may be filed by any party to a hearing proceeding. Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, such motions must be filed within 15 days after the full text or a summary of the order designating the case for hearing has been published in the Federal Register.

    (b)(1) For program carriage complaints filed pursuant to § 76.1302 of this chapter that the Chief, Media Bureau refers to a presiding officer, such motions shall be filed within 15 calendar days after the deadline for submitting written appearances pursuant to § 1.221(h), except that persons not named as parties to the proceeding in the designation order may file such motions with their petitions to intervene up to 30 days after publication of the full text or a summary of the designation order in the Federal Register. (See § 1.223).

    (2) Any person desiring to file a motion to modify the issues after the expiration of periods specified in paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) of this section shall set forth the reason why it was not possible to file the motion within the prescribed period. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the motion will be granted only if good cause is shown for the delay in filing. Motions for modifications of issues which are based on new facts or newly discovered facts shall be filed within 15 days after such facts are discovered by the moving party.

    * * * * *

    (e) In any case in which the presiding officer grants a motion to enlarge the issues to inquire into allegations that an applicant made misrepresentations to the Commission or engaged in other misconduct during the application process, the enlarged issues include notice that, after hearings on the enlarged issue and upon a finding that the alleged misconduct occurred and warrants such penalty, in addition to or in lieu of denying the application, the applicant may be liable for a forfeiture of up to the maximum statutory amount. See 47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(A).

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    36. Revise § 1.241 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Designation of presiding officer.

    (a) Hearing proceedings will be conducted by a presiding officer. The designated presiding officer will be identified in the order designating a matter for hearing. Only the Commission, one or more commissioners, or an administrative law judge designated pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3105 may be designated as a presiding officer. Unless otherwise stated, the term presiding officer will include the Commission when the Commission designates itself to preside over a hearing proceeding.

    (b) If a presiding officer becomes unavailable during the course of a hearing proceeding, another presiding officer will be designated.

    Start Amendment Part

    37. Add § 1.242 to Subpart B to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Appointment of case manager when Commission is the presiding officer.

    When the Commission designates itself as the presiding officer in a hearing proceeding, it may delegate authority to a case manager to develop the record in a written hearing (see §§ 1.370-1.377). The case manager must be a staff attorney who qualifies as a neutral under 5 U.S.C. 571 and 573. The Commission shall not designate any of the following persons to serve as case manager in a case, and they may not advise or assist the case manager: Staff who participated in identifying the specific issues designated for hearing; staff who have taken or will take an active part in investigating, prosecuting, or advocating in the case; or staff who are expected to investigate and act upon petitions to deny (including challenges thereto). A case manager shall have authority to perform any of the functions generally performed by the presiding officer, except that a case manager shall have no authority to resolve any new or novel issues, to issue an order on the merits resolving any issue designated for hearing in a case, to issue an order on the merits of any motion for summary decision filed under § 1.251, or to perform any other functions that the Commission reserves to itself in the order appointing a case manager.

    Start Amendment Part

    38. Amend § 1.243 by revising the introductory text, paragraphs (g), (i) through (l), the authority citation, and adding paragraphs (m) and (n) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Authority of presiding officer.

    From the time the presiding officer is designated until issuance of the presiding officer's decision or the transfer of the proceeding to the Commission or to another presiding officer, the presiding officer shall have such authority as granted by law and by the provisions of this chapter, including authority to:

    * * * * *

    (g) Require the filing of memoranda of law and the presentation of oral argument with respect to any question of law upon which the presiding officer or the Commission is required to rule during the course of the hearing proceeding;

    * * * * *

    (i) Dispose of procedural requests and ancillary matters, as appropriate;

    (j) Take actions and make decisions in conformity with governing law;

    (k) Act on motions to enlarge, modify or delete the hearing issues;

    (l) Act on motions to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to § 1.224;Start Printed Page 53367

    (m) Decide a matter upon the existing record or request additional information from the parties; and

    (n) Issue such orders and conduct such proceedings as will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and the ends of justice.

    (5 U.S.C. 556; 47 U.S.C. 154, 159, 208, 209, 214, 309, 312, 316, and 409)
    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    39. Revise § 1.244 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Designation of a settlement officer.

    (a) Parties may request that the presiding officer appoint a settlement officer to facilitate the resolution of the case by settlement.

    (b) Where all parties in a case agree that such procedures may be beneficial, such requests may be filed with the presiding officer no later than 15 days prior to the date scheduled for the commencement of hearings or, in hearing proceedings conducted pursuant to §§ 1.370-1.377, no later than 15 days before the date set as the deadline for filing the affirmative case. The presiding officer shall suspend the procedural dates in the case pending action upon such requests.

    (c) If, in the discretion of the presiding officer, it appears that the appointment of a settlement officer will facilitate the settlement of the case, the presiding officer shall appoint a “neutral” as defined in 5 U.S.C. 571 and 573 to act as the settlement officer.

    (1) The parties may request the appointment of a settlement officer of their own choosing so long as that person is a “neutral” as defined in 5 U.S.C. 571 and 573.

    (2) The appointment of a settlement officer in a particular case is subject to the approval of all the parties in the proceeding.

    (3) Neither the Commission, nor any sitting members of the Commission, nor the presiding officer shall serve as the settlement officer in any case.

    (4) Other members of the Commission's staff who qualify as neutrals may be appointed as settlement officers. The presiding officer shall not appoint a member of the Commission's staff as a settlement officer in any case if the staff member's duties include, or have included, drafting, reviewing, and/or recommending actions on the merits of the issues designated for hearing in that case.

    (d) The settlement officer shall have the authority to require parties to submit their written direct cases for review. The settlement officer may also meet with the parties and/or their counsel, individually and/or at joint conferences, to discuss their cases and the cases of their competitors. All such meetings will be off-the-record, and the settlement officer may express an opinion as to the relative merit of the parties' positions and recommend possible means to resolve the proceeding by settlement. The proceedings before the settlement officer shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of 5 U.S.C. 574. Moreover, no statements, offers of settlement, representations or concessions of the parties or opinions expressed by the settlement officer will be admissible as evidence in any Commission proceeding.

    Start Amendment Part

    40. Amend § 1.245 by revising paragraphs (a), (b)(1) through (3), and the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Disqualification of presiding officer.

    (a) In the event that a presiding officer (other than the Commission) deems himself or herself disqualified and desires to withdraw from the case, the presiding officer shall immediately so notify the Commission.

    (b) * * *

    (1) The person seeking disqualification shall file with the presiding officer an affidavit setting forth in detail the facts alleged to constitute grounds for disqualification.

    (2) The presiding officer may file a response to the affidavit; and if the presiding officer believes he or she is not disqualified, he or she shall so rule and continue with the hearing proceeding.

    (3) The person seeking disqualification may appeal a ruling denying the request for withdrawal of the presiding officer, and, in that event, shall do so within five days of release of the presiding officer's ruling. Unless an appeal of the ruling is filed at this time, the right to request withdrawal of the presiding officer shall be deemed waived.

    * * * * *
    (5 U.S.C. 556; 47 U.S.C. 154, 159, 208, 209, 214, 309, 312, 316, and 409)
    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    41. Revise § 1.248 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Status conferences.

    (a) The presiding officer may direct the parties or their attorneys to appear at a specified time and place for a status conference during the course of a hearing proceeding, or to submit suggestions in writing, for the purpose of considering, among other things, the matters set forth in paragraph (c) of this section. Any party may request a status conference at any time after release of the order designating a matter for hearing. During a status conference, the presiding officer may issue rulings regarding matters relevant to the conduct of the hearing proceeding including, inter alia, procedural matters, discovery, and the submission of briefs or evidentiary materials.

    (b) The presiding officer shall schedule an initial status conference promptly after written appearances have been submitted under § 1.91 or § 1.221. At or promptly after the initial status conference, the presiding officer shall adopt a schedule to govern the hearing proceeding. If the Commission designated a matter for hearing on a written record under §§ 1.370-1.376, the scheduling order shall include a deadline for filing a motion to request an oral hearing in accordance with § 1.376. If the Commission did not designate the matter for hearing on a written record, the scheduling order shall include a deadline for filing a motion to conduct the hearing on a written record. Except as circumstances otherwise require, the presiding officer shall allow a reasonable period prior to commencement of the hearing for the orderly completion of all prehearing procedures, including discovery, and for the submission and disposition of all motions.

    (c) In status conferences, the following matters, among others, may be considered:

    (1) Clarifying, amplifying, or narrowing issues designated for hearing;

    (2) Scheduling;

    (3) Admission of facts and of the genuineness of documents (see § 1.246), and the possibility of stipulating with respect to facts;

    (4) Discovery;

    (5) Motions;

    (6) Hearing procedure;

    (7) Settlement (see § 1.93); and

    (8) Such other matters that may aid in resolution of the issues designated for hearing.

    (d) Status conferences may be conducted in person or by telephone conference call or similar technology, at the discretion of the presiding officer. An official transcript of all status conferences shall be made unless the presiding officer and the parties agree to forego a transcript, in which case any rulings by the presiding officer during the status conference shall be promptly memorialized in writing.

    (e) The failure of any attorney or party, following reasonable notice, to appear at a scheduled status conference may be deemed a waiver by that party of its rights to participate in the hearing proceeding and shall not preclude the presiding officer from conferring with parties or counsel present.

    * * * * *
    Start Printed Page 53368
    Start Amendment Part

    42. Revise § 1.249 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Presiding officer statement.

    The presiding officer shall enter upon the record a statement reciting all actions taken at a status conference convened under § 1.248 and incorporating into the record all of the stipulations and agreements of the parties which were approved by the presiding officer, and any special rules which the presiding officer may deem necessary to govern the course of the proceeding.

    Start Amendment Part

    43. Revise § 1.250 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Discovery and preservation of evidence; cross-reference.

    For provisions relating to prehearing discovery and preservation of admissible evidence in hearing proceedings under this Subpart B, see §§ 1.311 through 1.325.

    Start Amendment Part

    44. Amend § 1.251 by revising paragraphs (a)(1) and (2), adding paragraph (a)(3), and revising paragraphs (d), (e), and (f)(1) through (3) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Summary decision.

    (a)(1) Any party to an adjudicatory proceeding may move for summary decision of all or any of the issues designated for hearing. The motion shall be filed at least 20 days prior to the date set for commencement of the hearing or, in hearing proceedings conducted pursuant to §§ 1.370-1.377, at least 20 days before the date that the presiding officer sets as the deadline for filing the affirmative case. See § 1.372. The party filing the motion may not rest upon mere allegations or denials but must show, by affidavit or by other materials subject to consideration by the presiding officer, that there is no genuine issue of material fact for determination in the hearing proceeding.

    (2) A party may file a motion for summary decision after the deadlines in paragraph (a)(1) of this section only with the presiding officer's permission, or upon the presiding officer's invitation. No appeal from an order granting or denying a request for permission to file a motion for summary decision shall be allowed. If the presiding officer authorizes a motion for summary decision after the deadlines in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law on those issues which the moving party believes can be resolved shall be attached to the motion, and any other party may file findings of fact and conclusions of law as an attachment to pleadings filed by the party pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

    (3) Motions for summary decision should be addressed to the Commission in any hearing proceeding in which the Commission is the presiding officer and it has appointed a case manager pursuant to § 1.242. The Commission, in its discretion, may defer ruling on any such motion until after the case manager has certified the record for decision by the Commission pursuant to § 1.377.

    * * * * *

    (d) The presiding officer may, in his or her discretion, set the matter for argument and may call for the submission of proposed findings, conclusions, briefs or memoranda of law. The presiding officer, giving appropriate weight to the nature of the proceeding, the issue or issues, the proof, and the need for cross-examination, if any, may grant a motion for summary decision to the extent that the pleadings, affidavits, materials obtained by discovery or otherwise, admissions, or matters officially noticed, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that a party is otherwise entitled to summary decision. If it appears from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion that the party cannot, for good cause shown, present by affidavit or otherwise facts essential to justify the party's opposition, the presiding officer may deny the motion, may order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had, or make such other order as is just.

    (e) If all of the issues (or a dispositive issue) are determined on a motion for summary decision, the hearing proceeding shall be terminated. When a presiding officer (other than the Commission) issues a Summary Decision, it is subject to appeal or review in the same manner as an Initial Decision. See §§ 1.271 through 1.282. If some of the issues only (including no dispositive issue) are decided on a motion for summary decision, or if the motion is denied, the presiding officer will issue a memorandum opinion and order, interlocutory in character, and the hearing proceeding will continue on the remaining issues. Appeal from interlocutory rulings is governed by § 1.301.

    (f) The presiding officer may take any action deemed necessary to assure that summary decision procedures are not abused. The presiding officer may rule in advance of a motion that the proceeding is not appropriate for summary decision, and may take such other measures as are necessary to prevent any unwarranted delay.

    (1) Should it appear to the satisfaction of the presiding officer that a motion for summary decision has been presented in bad faith or solely for the purpose of delay, or that such a motion is patently frivolous, the presiding officer will enter a determination to that effect upon the record.

    (2) If, on making such determination, the presiding officer concludes that the facts warrant disciplinary action against an attorney, the matter, together with any findings and recommendations, will be referred to the Commission for consideration under § 1.24.

    (3) If, on making such determination, the presiding officer concludes that the facts warrant a finding of bad faith on the part of a party to the proceeding, the presiding officer will certify the matter to the Commission, with findings and recommendations, for a determination as to whether the facts warrant the addition of an issue to the hearing proceeding as to the character qualifications of that party.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    45. Revise § 1.253 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Time and place of hearing.

    The presiding officer shall specify the time and place of oral hearings. All oral hearings will take place at Commission Headquarters unless the presiding officer designates another location.

    Start Amendment Part

    46. Revise § 1.254 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Nature of the hearing proceeding; burden of proof.

    Any hearing upon an application shall be a full hearing proceeding in which the applicant and all other parties in interest shall be permitted to participate but in which both the burden of proceeding with the introduction of evidence upon any issue specified by the Commission, as well as the burden of proof upon all such issues, shall be upon the applicant except as otherwise provided in the order of designation.

    (Sec. 309, 48 Stat. 1085, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 309)
    [Removed and reserved]
    Start Amendment Part

    47. Remove and reserve § 1.258.

    End Amendment Part
    [Removed and reserved]
    Start Amendment Part

    48. Remove and reserve § 1.260.

    End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part

    49. Revise § 1.261 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Corrections to transcript.

    At any time during the course of the proceeding, or as directed by the presiding officer, but not later than 10 days after the transmission to the parties of the transcript of any oral conference or hearing, any party to the proceeding may file with the presiding officer a motion requesting corrections to the transcript, which motion shall be Start Printed Page 53369accompanied by proof of service thereof upon all other parties to the proceeding. Within 5 days after the filing of such a motion, other parties may file a pleading in support of or in opposition to such motion. Thereafter, the presiding officer shall, by order, specify the corrections to be made in the transcript, and a copy of the order shall be served upon all parties and made a part of the record. The presiding officer may sua sponte specify corrections to be made in the transcript on 5 days' notice.

    Start Amendment Part

    50. Amend § 1.263 by revising paragraph (a) and the authority citation to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Proposed findings and conclusions.

    (a) The presiding officer may direct any party to file proposed findings of fact and conclusions, briefs, or memoranda of law. If the presiding officer does not so order, any party to the proceeding may seek leave to file proposed findings of fact and conclusions, briefs, or memoranda of law. Such proposed findings of fact, conclusions, briefs, and memoranda of law shall be filed within the time prescribed by the presiding officer.

    * * * * *
    (5 U.S.C. 557; 47 U.S.C. 154, 159, 208, 209, 214, 309, 312, 316, and 409)
    Start Amendment Part

    51. Add § 1.265 to Subpart B to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Closing the record.

    At the conclusion of hearing proceedings, the presiding officer shall promptly close the record after the parties have submitted their evidence, filed any proposed findings and conclusions under § 1.263, and submitted any other information required by the presiding officer. After the record is closed, it shall be certified by the presiding officer and filed in the Office of the Secretary. Notice of such certification shall be served on all parties to the proceedings.

    Start Amendment Part

    52. Amend § 1.267 by revising paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Initial and recommended decisions.

    (a) Except as provided in §§ 1.94, 1.251 and 1.274, when the proceeding is terminated on motion, or when the presiding officer is the Commission, the presiding officer shall prepare an initial (or recommended) decision, which shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the Commission. In the case of rate making proceedings conducted under sections 201-205 of the Communications Act, the presumption shall be that the presiding officer shall prepare an initial or recommended decision. The Secretary will make the decision public immediately and file it in the docket of the case.

    * * * * *

    (c) When the Commission is not the presiding officer, the authority of the presiding officer over the proceedings shall cease when the presiding officer has filed an Initial or Recommended Decision, or if it is a case in which the presiding officer is to file no decision, when they have certified the case for decision: Provided, however, That the presiding officer shall retain limited jurisdiction over the proceeding for the purpose of effecting certification of the record and corrections to the transcript, as provided in §§ 1.265 and 1.261, respectively, and for the purpose of ruling initially on applications for awards of fees and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    53. Revise § 1.273 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Waiver of initial or recommended decision.

    When the Commission serves as the presiding officer, it will not issue an initial or recommended decision. When the Commission is not the presiding officer, at any time before the record is closed all parties to the proceeding may agree to waive an initial or recommended decision, and may request that the Commission issue a final decision or order in the case. If the Commission has directed that its review function in the case be performed by a commissioner or a panel of commissioners, the request shall be directed to the appropriate review authority. The Commission or such review authority may in its discretion grant the request, in whole or in part, if such action will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and to the ends of justice.

    Start Amendment Part

    54. Revise § 1.274 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Certification of the record to the Commission for decision when the Commission is not the presiding officer; presiding officer unavailability.

    (a) When the Commission is not the presiding officer, and where the Commission finds upon the record that due and timely execution of its functions imperatively and unavoidably so requires, the Commission may direct that the record in a pending proceeding be certified to it for decision.

    (b) When a presiding officer becomes unavailable to the Commission after the taking of evidence has been concluded, the Commission shall direct that the record be certified to it for decision. In that event, the Commission shall designate a new presiding officer in accordance with § 1.241 for the limited purpose of certifying the record to the Commission.

    (c) In all other circumstances when the Commission is not the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall prepare and file an initial or recommended decision, which will be released in accordance with § 1.267.

    (d) When a presiding officer becomes unavailable to the Commission after the taking of evidence has commenced but before it has been concluded, the Commission shall designate another presiding officer in accordance with § 1.241 to continue the hearing proceeding. Oral testimony already introduced shall not be reheard unless observation of the demeanor of the witness is essential to the resolution of the case.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    55. Revise § 1.279 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Limitation of matters to be reviewed.

    (a) Upon review of any initial decision, the Commission may, in its discretion, limit the issues to be reviewed to those findings and conclusions to which exceptions have been filed, or to those findings and conclusions specified in the Commission's order of review issued pursuant to § 1.276(b).

    (b) No party may file an exception to the presiding officer's ruling that all or part of the hearing be conducted and resolved on a written record, unless that party previously filed an interlocutory motion to request an oral hearing in accordance with § 1.376.

    Start Amendment Part

    56. Revise § 1.291 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    General provisions.

    (a)(1) The Commission acts on petitions to amend, modify, enlarge or delete the issues in hearing proceedings which involve rule making matters exclusively.

    (2) All other interlocutory matters in hearing proceedings are acted on by the presiding officer.

    (3) Each interlocutory pleading shall identify the presiding officer in its caption. Unless the pleading is to be acted upon by the Commission, the presiding officer shall be identified by name.

    (b) All interlocutory pleadings shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of §§ 1.4, 1.44, 1.47, 1.48, 1.49, 1.50, 1.51, and 1.52.

    (c)(1) Procedural rules governing interlocutory pleadings are set forth in §§ 1.294-1.298.

    (2) Rules governing appeal from, and reconsideration of, interlocutory rulings made by the presiding officer are set forth in § 1.301.Start Printed Page 53370

    (3) Petitions requesting reconsideration of an interlocutory ruling will not be entertained.

    (d) No initial decision shall become effective under § 1.276(e) until all interlocutory matters pending before the Commission in the proceeding at the time the initial decision is issued have been disposed of and the time allowed for appeal from interlocutory rulings of the presiding officer has expired.

    (Secs. 4(i), 303(r) and 5(c)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; 47 CFR 0.61 and 0.283)
    Start Amendment Part

    57. Revise § 1.294 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Oppositions and replies.

    (a) Any party to a hearing proceeding may file an opposition to an interlocutory request filed in that proceeding.

    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section or as otherwise ordered by the presiding officer, oppositions to interlocutory requests shall be filed within 4 days after the original pleading is filed, and replies to oppositions will not be entertained.

    (c) Additional pleadings may be filed only if specifically requested or authorized by the person(s) who is to make the ruling.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    58. Amend § 1.298 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Rulings; time for action.
    * * * * *

    (b) In the discretion of the presiding officer, rulings on interlocutory matters may be made orally to the parties. The presiding officer may, in his or her discretion, state reasons therefor on the record if the ruling is being transcribed, or may promptly issue a written statement of the reasons for the ruling, either separately or as part of an initial decision.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    59. Amend § 1.301 by revising the section heading and paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(1) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Appeal from interlocutory rulings by a presiding officer, other than the Commission, or a case manager; effective date of ruling.

    (a) Interlocutory rulings which are appealable as a matter of right. Rulings listed in this paragraph are appealable as a matter of right. An appeal from such a ruling may not be deferred and raised as an exception to the initial decision.

    (1) If a ruling denies or terminates the right of any person to participate as a party to a hearing proceeding, such person, as a matter of right, may file an appeal from that ruling.

    (2) If a ruling requires testimony or the production of documents, over objection based on a claim of privilege, the ruling on the claim of privilege is appealable as a matter of right.

    (3) If a ruling denies a motion to disqualify the presiding officer or case manager, the ruling is appealable as a matter of right.

    (4) A ruling removing counsel from the hearing is appealable as a matter of right, by counsel on his own behalf or by his client. (In the event of such ruling, the presiding officer will adjourn the hearing proceeding for such period as is reasonably necessary for the client to secure new counsel and for counsel to become familiar with the case).

    (b) Other interlocutory rulings. Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, appeals from interlocutory rulings shall be filed only if allowed by the presiding officer. Any party desiring to file an appeal shall first file a request for permission to file appeal. The request shall be filed within 5 days after the order is released or (if no written order) after the ruling is made. Pleadings responsive to the request shall be filed only if they are requested by the presiding officer. If the presiding officer made the ruling, the request shall contain a showing that the appeal presents a new or novel question of law or policy and that the ruling is such that error would be likely to require remand should the appeal be deferred and raised as an exception. If a case manager made the ruling, the request shall contain a showing that the appeal presents a question of law or policy that the case manager lacks authority to resolve. The presiding officer shall determine whether the showing is such as to justify an interlocutory appeal and, in accordance with his determination, will either allow or disallow the appeal or modify the ruling. Such ruling is final: Provided, however, That the Commission may, on its own motion, dismiss an appeal allowed under this section on the ground that objection to the ruling should be deferred and raised after the record is certified for decision by the Commission or as an exception to an initial decision.

    (1) If an appeal is not allowed, or is dismissed by the Commission, or if permission to file an appeal is not requested, objection to the ruling may be raised after the record is certified for decision by the Commission or on review of the initial decision.

    (2) If an appeal is allowed and is considered on its merits, the disposition on appeal is final. Objection to the ruling or to the action on appeal may not be raised after the record is certified for decision by the Commission or on review of the initial decision.

    (3) If the presiding officer modifies their initial ruling, any party adversely affected by the modified ruling may file a request for permission to file appeal, pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph.

    (c) * * *

    (1) Unless the presiding officer orders otherwise, rulings made shall be effective when the order is released or (if no written order) when the ruling is made. The Commission may stay the effect of any ruling that comes before it for consideration on appeal.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    60. Amend § 1.302 by revising the section heading to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Appeal from final ruling by presiding officer other than the Commission; effective date of ruling.
    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    61. Amend § 1.311 by revising the introductory text and paragraph (a), removing the introductory text to paragraph (c) and paragraph (c)(1), redesignating paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) as paragraphs (c)(1) and (2), revising the text of redesignated paragraph (c)(1), removing paragraph (d), redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (d), and revising newly redesignated paragraph (d) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    General.

    Sections 1.311 through 1.325 provide for taking the deposition of any person (including a party), for interrogatories to parties, and for orders to parties relating to the production of documents and things and for entry upon real property. These procedures may be used for the discovery of relevant facts, for the production and preservation of evidence for use in a hearing proceeding, or for both purposes.

    (a) Applicability. For purposes of discovery, these procedures may be used in any case of adjudication (as defined in the Administrative Procedure Act) which has been designated for hearing. For the preservation of evidence, they may be used in any case which has been designated for hearing and is conducted under the provisions of this subpart (see § 1.201).

    * * * * *

    (c)(1) Except as provided by special order of the presiding officer, discovery may be initiated after the initial conference provided for in § 1.248(b) of this part.

    (2) In all proceedings, the presiding officer may at any time order the parties or their attorneys to appear at a conference to consider the proper use of these procedures, the time to be allowed Start Printed Page 53371for such use, and/or to hear argument and render a ruling on disputes that arise under these rules.

    (d) Stipulations regarding the taking of depositions. If all of the parties so stipulate in writing and if there is no interference to the conduct of the proceeding, depositions may be taken before any person, at any time (subject to the limitation below) or place, upon any notice and in any manner, and when so taken may be used like other depositions. A copy of the stipulation shall be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System, and a copy of the stipulation shall be served on the presiding officer or case manager at least 3 days before the scheduled taking of the deposition.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    62. Add § 1.314 to Subpart B to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Confidentiality of information produced or exchanged.

    (a) Any information produced in the course of a hearing proceeding may be designated as confidential by any parties to the proceeding, or third parties, pursuant to §§ 0.457, 0.459, or 0.461 of these rules. Any parties or third-parties asserting confidentiality for such materials must:

    (1) Clearly mark each page, or portion thereof, for which a confidential designation is claimed. The parties or third parties claiming confidentiality should restrict their designations to encompass only the specific information that they assert is confidential. If a confidential designation is challenged, the party or third party claiming confidentiality shall have the burden of demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the materials designated as confidential fall under the standards for nondisclosure enunciated in the FOIA and that the designation is narrowly tailored to encompass only confidential information.

    (2) File with the Commission, using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System, a public version of the materials that redacts any confidential information and clearly marks each page of the redacted public version with a header stating “Public Version.” The Public Version shall be machine-readable whenever technically possible. Where the document to be filed electronically contains metadata that is confidential or protected from disclosure by a legal privilege (including, for example, the attorney-client privilege), the filer may remove such metadata from the Public Version before filing it electronically.

    (3) File with the Secretary's Office an unredacted hard copy, meaning an unredacted version of the materials containing confidential information that clearly displays on each page of the unredacted version a header stating “Confidential Version.” The unredacted version must be filed on the same day as the Public Version.

    (4) Serve one hard copy of the Public Version and one hard copy of the Confidential Version on the attorney of record for each party to the proceeding, or, where a party is not represented by an attorney, each party to the proceeding either by hand delivery, overnight delivery, or email, together with a proof of such service in accordance with the requirements of § 1.47(g). A hard copy of the Public Version and Confidential Version shall also be served on the presiding officer as identified in the caption.

    (b) An attorney of record for any party or any party that receives unredacted materials marked as confidential may disclose such materials solely to the following persons, only for use in prosecuting or defending a party to the hearing proceeding, and only to the extent necessary to assist in the prosecution or defense of the case:

    (1) Employees of counsel of record representing the parties in the hearing proceeding;

    (2) Officers or employees of the receiving party who are directly involved in the prosecution or defense of the case;

    (3) Consultants or expert witnesses retained by the parties; and

    (4) Court reporters and stenographers in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

    (c) The individuals identified above in paragraph (b) shall not disclose information designated as confidential to any person who is not authorized under this section to receive such information, and shall not use the information in any activity or function other than the prosecution or defense in the hearing proceeding. Each such individual who is provided access to the information shall sign a declaration or affidavit stating that the individual has personally reviewed the Commission's rules and understands the limitations they impose on the signing party.

    (d) Parties may make copies of materials marked confidential solely for use by the Commission or persons designated in paragraph (b) of this section. Each party shall maintain a log recording the number of copies made of all confidential material and the persons to whom the copies have been provided.

    (e) The presiding officer may adopt a protective order as appropriate.

    (f) Upon final termination of a hearing proceeding, including all appeals and applications for review, the parties shall ensure that all originals and reproductions of any confidential materials, along with the log recording persons who received copies of such materials, shall be provided to the producing party. In addition, upon final termination of the proceeding, any notes or other work product derived in whole or in part from the confidential materials of an opposing or third party shall be destroyed.

    Start Amendment Part

    63. Amend § 1.315 by revising paragraph (a) and deleting paragraph (e) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Depositions upon oral examination—notice and preliminary procedure.

    (a) Notice. A party to a hearing proceeding desiring to take the deposition of any person upon oral examination shall give a minimum of 21 days' notice to every other party, to the person to be examined, and to the presiding officer or case manager. A copy of the notice shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission for inclusion in the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System. Related pleadings shall be served and filed in the same manner. The notice shall contain the following information:

    * * * * *
    [Removed and reserved]
    Start Amendment Part

    64. Remove and reserve § 1.316.

    End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part

    65. Amend § 1.319 by revising the first sentence of paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Objections to the taking of depositions.
    * * * * *

    (c) * * *

    (2) If counsel cannot agree on the proper limits of the examination the taking of depositions shall continue on matters not objected to and counsel shall, within 24 hours, either jointly or individually, provide * * *

    (3) The presiding officer shall promptly rule upon the question presented or take such other action as may be appropriate under § 1.313, and shall give notice of his ruling, expeditiously * * *

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    66. Amend § 1.321 by revising the heading and revising paragraphs (b) and (d)(3) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Use of depositions in hearing proceedings.
    * * * * *

    (b) Except as provided in this paragraph and in § 1.319, objection may be made to receiving in evidence any deposition or part thereof for any reason Start Printed Page 53372which would require the exclusion of the evidence if the witness were then present and testifying.

    * * * * *

    (d) * * *

    (3) The deposition of any witness, whether or not a party, may be used by any party for any lawful purpose.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    67. Amend § 1.323 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Interrogatories to parties.

    (a) Interrogatories. Any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories to be answered in writing by the party served or, if the party served is a public or private corporation, partnership, association, or similar entity, by any officer or agent, who shall furnish such information as is available to the party. Copies of the interrogatories, answers, and all related pleadings shall be filed with the Commission and served on the presiding officer and all other parties to the hearing proceeding.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    68. Amend § 1.325 by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Discovery and production of documents and things for inspection, copying, or photographing.

    (a) * * *

    (1) Copies of the request shall be filed with the Commission and served on the presiding officer and all other parties to the hearing proceeding.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    69. Revise § 1.331 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Who may sign and issue.

    Subpenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and subpenas requiring the production of any books, papers, schedules of charges, contracts, agreements, and documents relating to any matter under investigation or hearing, may be signed and issued by the presiding officer.

    Start Amendment Part

    70. Amend § 1.338 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Subpena forms.

    (a) Subpena forms are available on the Commission's internet site, www.fcc.gov,, as FCC Form 766. These forms are to be completed and submitted with any request for issuance of a subpena.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    71. Revise § 1.351 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Rules of evidence.

    In hearings subject to this Subpart B, any oral or documentary evidence may be adduced, but the presiding officer shall exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.

    Start Amendment Part

    72. Revise § 1.362 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Production of statements.

    After a witness is called and has given direct testimony in an oral hearing, and before he or she is excused, any party may move for the production of any statement of such witness, or part thereof, pertaining to his or her direct testimony, in possession of the party calling the witness, if such statement has been reduced to writing and signed or otherwise approved or adopted by the witness. Such motion shall be directed to the presiding officer. If the party declines to furnish the statement, the testimony of the witness pertaining to the requested statement shall be stricken.

    Start Amendment Part

    73. Amend Subpart B by adding a new heading and §§ 1.370 through 1.377 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Part

    PART 1—PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

    Subpart B—Hearing Proceedings

    Hearings on a Written Record

    1.370
    Purpose.
    1.371
    General pleading requirements.
    1.372
    The affirmative case.
    1.373
    The responsive case.
    1.374
    The reply case.
    1.375
    Other written submissions.
    1.376
    Oral hearing or argument.
    Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 157, 225, 227, 303(r), 309, 1403, 1404, 1451, and 1452.

    End Authority

    Hearings on a Written Record

    Purpose.

    Hearings under this Subpart B that the Commission or one of its Bureaus, acting on delegated authority, determines shall be conducted and resolved on a written record are subject to §§ 1.371-1.377. If an order designating a matter for hearing does not specify whether those rules apply to a hearing proceeding, and if the proceeding is not subject to 5 U.S.C. 554, the presiding officer may, in their discretion, conduct and resolve all or part of the hearing proceeding on a written record in accordance with §§ 1.371-1.377.

    General pleading requirements.

    Written hearings shall be resolved on a written record consisting of affirmative case, responsive case, and reply case submissions, along with all associated evidence in the record, including stipulations and agreements of the parties and official notice of a material fact.

    (a) All pleadings filed in any proceeding subject to these written hearing rules must be submitted in conformity with the requirements of §§ 1.4, 1.44, 1.47, 1.48, 1.49, 1.50, 1.51(a), and 1.52.

    (b) Pleadings must be clear, concise, and direct. All matters should be pleaded fully and with specificity.

    (c) Pleadings shall consist of numbered paragraphs and must be supported by relevant evidence. Assertions based on information and belief are prohibited unless made in good faith and accompanied by a declaration or affidavit explaining the basis for the party's belief and why the party could not reasonably ascertain the facts from any other source.

    (d) Legal arguments must be supported by appropriate statutory, judicial, or administrative authority.

    (e) Opposing authorities must be distinguished.

    (f) Copies must be provided of all non-Commission authorities relied upon which are not routinely available in national reporting systems, such as unpublished decisions or slip opinions of courts or administrative agencies. In addition, copies of state authorities relied upon shall be provided.

    (g) Parties are responsible for the continuing accuracy and completeness of all information and supporting authority furnished in a pending proceeding. Information submitted, as well as relevant legal authorities, must be current and updated as necessary and in a timely manner before a decision is rendered on the merits.

    (h) Pleadings shall identify the name, address, telephone number, and email address for either the filing party's attorney or, where a party is not represented by an attorney, the filing party. Pleadings may be signed by a party's attorney.

    (i) Attachments to any pleading shall be Bates-stamped or otherwise identifiable by party and numbered sequentially. Parties shall cite to Bates-stamped or otherwise identifiable page numbers in their pleadings.

    (j) Unless a schedule is specified in the order designating a matter for hearing, at the initial status conference under § 1.248(b), the presiding officer shall adopt a schedule for the sequential filing of pleadings required or permitted under these rules.

    (k) Pleadings shall be served on all parties to the proceeding in accordance with § 1.211 and shall include a certificate of service. All pleadings shall be served on the presiding officer or case manager, as identified in the caption.

    (l) Each pleading must contain a written verification that the signatory has read the submission and, to the best Start Printed Page 53373of their knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law; and that it is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of the proceeding. If any pleading or other submission is signed in violation of this provision, the Commission may upon motion or upon its own initiative impose appropriate sanctions.

    (m) Any party to the proceeding may file a motion seeking waiver of any of the rules governing pleadings in written hearings. Such waiver may be granted for good cause shown.

    (n) Any pleading that does not conform with the requirements of the applicable rules may be deemed defective. In such case, the presiding officer may strike the pleading or request that specified defects be corrected and that proper pleadings be filed with the Commission and served on the presiding officer or case manager and all parties within a prescribed time as a condition to being made a part of the record in the proceeding.

    (o) Any party that fails to respond to official correspondence, a request for additional information, or an order or directive from the presiding officer or case manager may be subject to appropriate sanctions.

    The affirmative case.

    (a) Within 30 days after the completion of the discovery period as determined by the presiding officer, unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer, any party to the proceeding with the burden of proof shall file a pleading entitled “affirmative case” that fully addresses each of the issues designated for hearing. The affirmative case submission shall include:

    (1) A statement of relevant material facts, supported by sworn statements based on personal knowledge, documentation, or by other materials subject to consideration by the presiding officer, and a full legal analysis of each of the issues designated for hearing;

    (2) Citation to relevant sections of the Communications Act or Commission regulations or orders; and

    (3) The relief sought.

    (b) The affirmative case submission shall address all factual and legal questions designated for hearing, and state in detail the basis for the response to each such question. Responses based on information and belief are prohibited unless made in good faith and accompanied by a declaration or affidavit explaining the basis for the party's belief and why the party could not reasonably ascertain the facts. When a party intends in good faith to deny only part of a designated question in the affirmative case, that party shall specify so much of it as is true and shall deny only the remainder.

    (c) Failure to address in an affirmative case submission all factual and legal questions designated for hearing may result in inferences adverse to the filing party.

    The responsive case.

    (a) Any other party may file a responsive case submission in the manner prescribed under this section within 30 calendar days of the filing of the affirmative case submission, unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer. The responsive case submission shall include:

    (1) A statement of relevant material facts, supported by sworn statements based on personal knowledge, documentation, or by other materials subject to consideration by the presiding officer, and a full legal analysis of any issues designated for hearing.

    (2) Citation to relevant sections of the Communications Act or Commission regulations or orders; and

    (3) Any relief sought.

    (b) The responsive case submission shall respond specifically to all material allegations made in the affirmative case submission. Every effort shall be made to narrow the issues for resolution by the presiding officer.

    (c) Statements of fact or law in an affirmative case filed pursuant to § 1.372 are deemed admitted when not rebutted in a responsive case submission.

    The reply case.

    (a) Any party who filed an affirmative case may file and serve a reply case submission within 15 days of the filing of any responsive case submission, unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer.

    (b) The reply case submission shall contain statements of relevant material facts, supported by sworn statements based on personal knowledge, documentation, or by other materials subject to consideration by the presiding officer, and a full legal analysis that responds only to the factual allegations and legal arguments made in any responsive case. Other allegations or arguments will not be considered by the presiding officer.

    (c) Failure to submit a reply case submission shall not be deemed an admission of any allegations contained in any responsive case.

    Other written submissions.

    (a) The presiding officer may require or permit the parties to file other written submissions such as briefs, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, or other supplementary documents or pleadings. The presiding officer may limit the scope of any such pleadings to certain subjects or issues.

    (b) The presiding officer may require the parties to submit any additional information deemed appropriate for a full, fair, and expeditious resolution of the proceeding.

    Oral hearing or argument.

    (a) Notwithstanding any requirement in the designation order that the hearing be conducted and resolved on a written record, a party may file a motion to request an oral hearing pursuant to § 1.291. Any such motion shall be filed after the submission of all the pleadings but no later than the date established in the scheduling order. See §§ 1.372-1.374, 1.248. The motion shall contain a list of genuine disputes as to outcome-determinative facts that the movant contends cannot adequately be resolved on a written record and a list of witnesses whose live testimony would be required to resolve such disputes. The motion also shall contain supporting legal analysis, including citations to relevant authorities and parts of the record. If the presiding officer finds that there is a genuine dispute as to an outcome-determinative fact that cannot adequately be resolved on a written record, the presiding officer shall conduct an oral hearing limited to testimony and cross-examination necessary to resolve that dispute.

    (b) The presiding officer may, on his or her own motion following the receipt of all written submissions, conduct an oral hearing to resolve a genuine dispute as to an outcome-determinative fact that the presiding officer finds cannot adequately be resolved on a written record. Any such oral hearing shall be limited to testimony and cross-examination necessary to resolve that dispute.

    (c) Oral argument shall be permitted only if the presiding officer determines that oral argument is necessary to resolution of the hearing.

    Certification of the written hearing record to the Commission for decision.

    When the Commission is the presiding officer and it has appointed a case manager under § 1.242, the case manager shall certify the record for decision to the Commission promptly after the hearing record is closed. Notice of such certification shall be served on all parties to the proceeding.Start Printed Page 53374

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    74. Amend § 1.1202 by revising paragraphs (c) and (e) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Definitions.
    * * * * *

    (c) Decision-making personnel. Any member, officer, or employee of the Commission, or, in the case of a Joint Board, its members or their staffs, who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in formulating a decision, rule, or order in a proceeding. Any person who has been made a party to a proceeding or who otherwise has been excluded from the decisional process shall not be treated as a decision-maker with respect to that proceeding. Thus, any person designated as part of a separate trial staff shall not be considered a decision-making person in the designated proceeding. Unseparated Bureau or Office staff shall be considered decision-making personnel with respect to decisions, rules, and orders in which their Bureau or Office participates in enacting, preparing, or reviewing. Commission staff serving as the case manager in a hearing proceeding in which the Commission is the presiding officer shall be considered decision-making personnel with respect to that hearing proceeding.

    * * * * *

    (e) Matter designated for hearing. Any matter that has been designated for hearing before a presiding officer.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    75. Amend § 1.1319 by revising the introductory text to paragraph (a) and paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Consideration of the environmental impact statements.

    (a) If the action is designated for hearing:

    (1) In rendering an initial decision, the presiding officer (other than the Commission) shall utilize the FEIS in considering the environmental issues, together with all other non-environmental issues.

    (2) When the Commission serves as the presiding officer or upon its review of an initial decision, the Commission will consider and assess all aspects of the FEIS and will render its decision, giving due consideration to the environmental and nonenvironmental issues.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    76. Amend § 1.1504 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Eligibility of applicants.
    * * * * *

    (f) The net worth and number of employees of the applicant and all of its affiliates shall be aggregated to determine eligibility. Any individual, corporation or other entity that directly or indirectly controls or owns a majority of the voting shares or other interest of the applicant, or any corporation or other entity of which the applicant directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting shares or other interest, will be considered an affiliate for purposes of this part, unless the presiding officer, as defined in 47 CFR 1.241, determines that such treatment would be unjust and contrary to the purposes of the EAJA in light of the actual relationship between the affiliated entities. In addition, the presiding officer may determine that financial relationships of the applicant other than those described in this paragraph constitute special circumstances that would make an award unjust.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    77. Amend § 1.1506 by revising the introductory text in paragraph (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Allowable fees and expenses.
    * * * * *

    (c) In determining the reasonableness of the fee sought for an attorney, agent or expert witness, the presiding officer shall consider the following:

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    78. Amend § 1.1512 by revising the last sentence of paragraph (a) and by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Net worth exhibit.

    (a) * * * The presiding officer may require an applicant to file additional information to determine its eligibility for an award.

    (b) Ordinarily, the net worth exhibit will be included in the public record of the proceeding. However, an applicant that objects to public disclosure of information in any portion of the exhibit and believes there are legal grounds for withholding it from disclosure may submit that portion of the exhibit directly to the presiding officer in a sealed envelope labeled “Confidential Financial Information”, accompanied by a motion to withhold the information from public disclosure. The motion shall describe the information sought to be withheld and explain, in detail, why it falls within one or more of the specific exemptions from mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1)-(9), why public disclosure of the information would adversely affect the applicant, and why disclosure is not required in the public interest. The material in question shall be served on Bureau counsel, but need not be served on any other party to the proceeding. If the presiding officer finds that the information should not be withheld from disclosure, it shall be placed in the public record of the proceeding. Otherwise, any request to inspect or copy the exhibit shall be disposed of in accordance with the Commission's established procedures under the Freedom of Information Act, §§ 0.441 through 0.466 of this chapter.

    Start Amendment Part

    79. Amend § 1.1513 by revising the last sentence to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Documentation of fees and expenses.

    * * * The presiding officer may require the applicant to provide vouchers, receipts, or other substantiation for any expenses claimed.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    80. Amend § 1.1514 by revising paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    When an application may be filed.
    * * * * *

    (c) * * *

    (1) The date on which an initial decision or other recommended disposition of the merits of the proceeding by a presiding officer (other than the Commission) becomes administratively final;

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    81. Amend § 1.1522 by revising the second sentence of paragraph (b) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Answer to application.
    * * * * *

    (b) * * * The filing of this statement shall extend the time for filing an answer for an additional 30 days, and further extensions may be granted by the presiding officer upon request by Bureau counsel and the applicant.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    82. Amend § 1.1524 by revising the second sentence to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Comments by other parties.

    * * * A commenting party may not participate further in proceedings on the application unless the presiding officer determines that the public interest requires such participation in order to permit full exploration of matters raised in the comments.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    83. Amend § 1.1525 by revising the last sentence to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Settlement.

    * * * If a presiding officer (other than the Commission) approves the proposed settlement, it shall be forwarded to the Commission for final determination. If the Commission is the presiding officer, it shall approve or deny the proposed settlement.Start Printed Page 53375

    Start Amendment Part

    84. Amend § 1.1526 by revising the second sentence of paragraph (a) and revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Further proceedings.

    (a) * * * However, on request of either the applicant or Bureau counsel, or on her own initiative, the presiding officer may order further proceedings, such as an informal conference, oral argument, additional written submissions or, as to issues other than excessive demand or substantial justification, an evidentiary hearing. * * *

    (b) A request that the presiding officer order further proceedings under this section shall specifically identify the information sought or the disputed issues and shall explain why the additional proceedings are necessary to resolve the issues.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    85. Amend § 1.1527 by revising the section heading and the first sentence, and adding a new last sentence to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Initial decision.

    A presiding officer (other than the Commission) shall issue an initial decision on the application as soon as possible after completion of proceedings on the application. * * * When the Commission is the presiding officer, the Commission may, but is not required to, issue an initial or recommended decision.

    Start Amendment Part

    86. Amend § 1.1528 by revising the last sentence to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Commission review.

    * * * If review is taken, the Commission will issue a final decision on the application or remand the application to the presiding officer (other than the Commission) for further proceedings.

    * * * * *
    Start Amendment Part

    87. Amend § 1.1604 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Post-selection hearings.
    * * * * *

    (b) If, after such hearing proceeding as may be necessary, the Commission determines that the “tentative selectee” has met the requirements of § 73.3591(a) it will make the appropriate grant. If the Commission is unable to make such a determination, it shall order that another random selection be conducted from among the remaining mutually exclusive applicants, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart.

    (c) If, on the basis of the papers before it, the Commission determines that a substantial and material question of fact exists, it shall designate that question for hearing. Hearing proceedings shall be conducted by a presiding officer. See § 1.241.

    * * * * *
    Start Part

    PART 76—MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    88. The authority citation for part 76 continues to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 153, 154, 301, 302, 302a, 303, 303a, 307, 308, 309, 312, 315, 317, 325, 338, 339, 340, 341, 503, 521, 522, 531, 532, 534, 535, 536, 537, 543, 544, 544a, 545, 548, 549, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 561, 571, 572, 573.

    End Authority Start Amendment Part

    89. Amend § 76.7 by revising paragraph (g)(2) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    General special relief, waiver, enforcement, complaint, show cause, forfeiture, and declaratory ruling procedures.
    * * * * *

    (g) * * *

    (2) Before designation for hearing, the staff shall notify, either orally or in writing, the parties to the proceeding of its intent to so designate, and the parties shall be given a period of ten (10) days to elect to resolve the dispute through alternative dispute resolution procedures, or to proceed with an adjudicatory hearing. Such election shall be submitted in writing to the Commission.

    End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2019-20568 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Document Information

Published:
10/07/2019
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
2019-20568
Dates:
Comments are due on or before November 6, 2019 and reply comments are due on or before November 21, 2019.
Pages:
53355-53375 (21 pages)
Docket Numbers:
EB Docket No. 19-214, FCC 19-86
Topics:
Administrative practice and procedure
PDF File:
2019-20568.Pdf
CFR: (90)
47 CFR 0.351 and 0.357
47 CFR 0.5
47 CFR 0.91
47 CFR 0.111
47 CFR 0.151
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