PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 15-1248
Released November 4, 2015
Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to or by the
Consumer Advisory Committee
The Consumer Advisory Committee (Committee) of the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC or Commission) is a federal advisory committee, whose charter was renewed 
in October of 2014. The mission of the Committee is to make recommendations to the 
Commission regarding consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission and to 
facilitate the participation of consumers (including underserved populations, such as Native 
Americans, persons living in rural areas, older persons, people with disabilities, and persons for 
whom English is not their primary language) in proceedings before the Commission.  The 
Committee’s duties include providing guidance to the Commission, gathering data and 
information, and performing those analyses that are necessary to respond to the questions or 
matters before it.
The Committee is organized under, and operated in accordance with, the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
1
  Under the FACA, the Commission is 
responsible for oversight of the Committee, including its task forces, subcommittees, or working 
groups.
2
As a result, FCC staff may participate in meetings or other activities of the Committee 
or its task forces, subcommittees or working groups.  In light of this, we are announcing that, 
pursuant to section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200(a), presentations to 
the Committee, including to its task forces, subcommittees or working groups, and presentations 
between Committee members and FCC staff, will be treated as exempt presentations for ex parte
purposes. This includes presentations to events hosted or coordinated by the Committee in 
which Committee members participate, such as forums and roundtable discussions on topics 
under consideration by the Committee.  This treatment is appropriate because presentations to 
the Committee, like comments on a Notice of Inquiry, will not directly result in the promulgation 
of new rules.
3
We recognize, however, that issues addressed by the Committee may be the subject of a
number of pending FCC proceedings. The Commission will not rely in these proceedings on any 
                                                     
1
5 U.S.C. App. 2.
2
See id.
3
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(b)(1) (exempt treatment of presentations regarding a Notice of Inquiry).
2information submitted to the Committee, or to any of its task forces, subcommittees, working 
groups, or information conveyed by Committee members to FCC staff unless that information is 
first placed in the record of the relevant proceeding.
For further information about the Committee, contact:  Scott Marshall, Designated 
Federal Officer, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 3-A633, 445 12
th
Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20554; phone: 202-418-
2809 (voice or Relay); email: scott.marshall@fcc.gov.  
- FCC -