Articles Posted in FCC Administration

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The Federal Communications Commission recently proposed revisions to its rules as part of its stated goal to “reform and transform the agency into a model of excellence in government.” As part of its goal, the FCC has released a Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing to modify its ex parte communications rules, which govern the disclosure of communications with the commissioners and FCC staff when all parties to a proceeding are not present.

The NPRM’s proposed rule changes include the following:

  • requiring that a summary of every oral ex parte presentation be filed with the FCC, as opposed to just those presentations involving new information or arguments;
  • requiring that the filing summarize all data and arguments presented;
  • establishing a preference for electronic filing of notices of ex parte presentations; and
  • requiring faster electronic filing (within four hours) of notices of permitted ex parte presentations made during the “Sunshine Period” (the period, which typically begins a week before a public FCC meeting, during which outside communications are limited regarding items on the meeting agenda).

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December 2009
Effective December 28, 2009, hand or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be submitted at its main building: 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554.

Previously, the FCC required that such filings be made at an address on Massachusetts Avenue, where they were subjected to radiation to prevent mail-borne contaminants from entering the Commission’s main building. The Massachusetts Avenue facility will be closed.

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