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 17-380
April 20, 2017
NOTICE CONCERNING EX PARTE STATUS OF INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THE 
BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
GN Docket No. 17-83
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) recently announced the first 
meeting of its Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (Committee or BDAC), to be held on Friday, 
April 21, 2017.
1
  The BDAC is a federal advisory committee, announced in January 2017
2
, that will 
provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on how to accelerate broadband deployment.  
The BDAC is organized under, and operates in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA).
3
  
Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Commission is responsible for oversight of the 
BDAC, including its subcommittees and working groups.
4
  As a result, FCC staff or Commissioners may 
participate in or attend meetings or other activities held by both the BDAC and its subcommittees and 
working groups.  In light of this, we are announcing that, pursuant to section 1.1200(a) of the 
Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.1200(a), presentations to the BDAC, including to its subcommittees and 
working groups, and at any roundtable discussions sponsored by the BDAC, and presentations between 
BDAC members (including members of any subcommittees or working groups) and FCC staff or 
Commissioners, will be treated as exempt presentations for ex parte purposes.  This treatment is 
appropriate since presentations to the Committee, like comments on a Notice of Inquiry, will not directly 
result in the promulgation of new rules.
5
  
We recognize, however, that in the course of its work the BDAC may address issues that are 
subject to pending rulemaking proceedings.
6
  The Commission will not rely in these proceedings on any 
                                                     
1
FCC Announces the Membership and First Meeting of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, Public 
Notice, DA 17-328 (Apr. 6, 2017). 
2
FCC Announces the Establishment of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee and Solicits Nominations 
for Membership, Public Notice, DA 17-110 (Jan. 31, 2017).
3
See 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
4
See id.
5
See 47 CFR § 1.1204(b)(1)(exempt treatment of presentations regarding a Notice of Inquiry).
6
See, e.g., Press Release, FCC, FCC Seeks Comment on Ways to Accelerate Next-Generation Networks by 
Removing Regulatory Barriers (Apr. 20, 2017), 
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0420/DOC-344484A1.pdf; Press Release, FCC, 
FCC Takes Steps to Promote Wireless Broadband Deployment (Apr. 20, 2017), 
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0420/DOC-344486A1.pdf. 
2information submitted to the BDAC, or to any of its subcommittees, working groups, or sponsored 
roundtables, or information conveyed by BDAC members (including members of any subcommittees or 
working groups) to FCC staff or Commissioners unless that information is first placed in the record of the 
relevant proceeding.
Additional information regarding the BDAC can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/broadband-
deployment-advisory-committee.  You may also contact Brian Hurley, Designated Federal Officer for 
BDAC at (202) 418-2220 or brian.hurley@fcc.gov; or Paul D’Ari, Deputy Designated Federal Officer for 
BDAC at (202) 418-1550 or paul.dari@fcc.gov.
- FCC -