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 17-454
Released:  May 11, 2017
GUIDANCE ON THE FCC’S SUNSHINE PERIOD IN THE 
RESTORING INTERNET FREEDOM PROCEEDING
WC Docket No. 17-108
Today, the Federal Communications Commission released its Agenda for the Commission’s May 18, 
2017 Open Meeting. The Agenda identifies the items that the Commission intends to vote on during that 
meeting. 
The Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is included in the list of items to be 
considered.  The FCC has long-standing rules that apply to all presentations (including comments, filings, 
and other submissions) that concern any item that has been listed on the Agenda.  Given the significant 
public interest in this item, this Public Notice both reminds the public of those rules and highlights the 
opportunities that the public will have to continue its participation in this important proceeding.     
Under the Commission’s long-standing rules that apply to all proceedings, all presentations to 
Commission “decision-makers” that concern a matter listed on the Agenda are prohibited during what is 
known as the Sunshine Agenda period.
1
  This means that during this brief period of time, members of the 
public cannot make presentations to FCC employees who are working on the matter, and are likely to be 
involved in making a decision on it, if the underlying content of the communication concerns the outcome 
of the proceeding.  Thus, for example, during this brief period of time, the Commission’s rules generally 
prohibit members of the public from submitting comments through the Commission’s website addressing 
the merits of the Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or any other item to be 
considered at the May 18 meeting.  The Commission adopted these rules to provide FCC decision-makers 
with a period of repose during which they can reflect on the upcoming items.
The Sunshine Agenda period for the Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will 
begin on May 12, 2017, and will continue until the Commission releases the text of the Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking or removes it from the meeting agenda.  Presentations, including comments, 
that are received during the Sunshine Agenda period and do not meet an exception to the Commission’s 
rules will be marked in the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) as “SUNSHINE.”  
These presentations will be associated with, but not made a part of, the record in the proceeding.  
Presentations made by the public after the end of the Sunshine Agenda period will be made a part of the 
record of the proceeding.
  
                                                     
1
47 CFR § 1.1203.  
2The Commission encourages robust participation from interested members of the public in all of its 
proceedings.  If the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is adopted at the Commission’s May 18 meeting, the 
formal comment period will begin when that document is released.  Members of the public are 
encouraged during that period to file their comments regarding this matter in ECFS to be considered as 
part of the formal rulemaking record.  For assistance with using ECFS, please contact the ECFS Help 
Desk via email at ECFSHelp@fcc.gov or at 202-418-0193.  See also Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau Guidance on Filing Comments in the Restoring Internet Freedom Proceeding, WC Docket No. 
17-108, Public Notice (CGB Apr. 27, 2017).  
ACCESSIBLE FORMATS:  To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice) or 202-418-0432 (TTY).
-FCC-