Federal Communications Commission	DA 20-713


DA 20-713
Released:  July 7, 2020

FCC ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATED RENEWAL OF ITS CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE COMMITTEE
	By this Public Notice, the Commission announces the anticipated renewal of the Consumer Advisory Committee (Committee) and solicits nominations for membership on the Committee, subject to anticipated renewal of the Committee’s charter on or before October 20, 2020.  Nominations for membership are due on August 7, 2020.  The Committee’s mission is to make recommendations to the Commission regarding topics of particular interest to consumers, to be specified by the Commission, and to facilitate consumers’ participation in proceedings before the Commission.  For additional background about the Committee, see its website:  https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-advisory-committee.

	The Commission seeks nominations from interested consumers seeking to serve on their own behalf, and from nonprofit organizations, corporations, trade associations, government agencies, or other entities from both the public and private sectors, who wish to be considered for membership for a two-year term of service.  Selections will be made based on factors such as expertise and diversity of viewpoints necessary to effectively address the topics considered by the Committee.

	The Commission will determine the appropriate Committee size necessary to effectively accomplish the Committee’s work.  While there is no required number of meetings, we expect that the Committee may hold meetings three times per calendar year, to be conducted in Washington, D.C. and/or by teleconference.  Members of the Committee will be expected to participate in at least one Working Group and, depending on the issues the Commission directs the Committee to address, the time commitment for Working Group participation may be substantial.  Working Group deliberations are conducted primarily through email and teleconferences.  Meetings will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.

	Some individuals with expertise or perspectives of particular interest to the Committee, and who will serve on the Committee in an individual capacity (and not as the representative of a nonprofit organization, corporation, or other entity), will be deemed to be Special Government Employees (SGES).  Federally registered lobbyists are ineligible to serve.  The Commission’s Office of General Counsel will conduct an ethics review of all organizational or individual members of the Committee or its Working Groups.  In addition, SGEs are subject to a variety of restrictions under the conflict of interest statutes, 18 U.S.C. § 203 et seq., and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. Part 2635.  SGEs must file confidential employee financial disclosure forms prior to beginning their service and annually thereafter.  SGEs will also be subject to ethics restrictions in section 4(b) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 154(b), and in the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR Part 19 and 5 CFR Parts 3901 and 3902.

NOMINATION PROCEDURE, DEADLINE, AND MEMBER APPOINTMENTS

	All nominations must be received by the Commission by no later than August 7, 2020, and should be submitted via an online nomination form at https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-advisory-committee unless use of that form would present a hardship, in which case the information and documents specified below may be submitted by email to the Committee’s Designated Federal Officer, Scott Marshall, scott.marshall@fcc.gov.  Nominations will be acknowledged shortly after receipt.

Individuals seeking to serve as members of the Committee on their own behalf as SGE members should include the following information:

· The individual’s specific knowledge or expertise that is relevant to the Committee, including a statement that the applicant is not a registered lobbyist (as noted above, financial and other additional disclosures may also be required);
· A statement indicating a willingness to serve on the Committee for a two-year term, a commitment to attend at least three meetings per year (to be conducted either in Washington, DC, or by teleconference); a commitment to participate in at least one Working Group; and an acknowledgement that the individual will not be entitled to receive reimbursement of travel expenses or payment of honoraria or other compensation from the Commission;
· Whether the individual has served on the Committee previously; and
· A current resume.
Nominations from nonprofit organizations, corporations, trade associations, government agencies, or other entities should include the following:

· The name of the entity nominating a representative and alternate representative (if any) to serve on the Committee on its behalf;
· A statement indicating whether a representative of the entity has previously served on the Committee and the nature of the entity’s interests (e.g., consumer advocate, disability advocate, government regulator, Tribal government, industry, trade association, etc.);
· The name of the entity’s proposed primary representative, including title, postal mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
· The name of the entity’s proposed alternate representative (if any), including title, postal mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
· Current resumes of the entity’s proposed primary and alternate representatives;
· A statement by the entity indicating a willingness to have its representatives serve on the Committee for a two-year term, a commitment that its representative or alternative representative will attend at least three meetings per year (to be conducted either in Washington, DC, or by teleconference); a commitment that its representative or alternate representative will participate in at least one Working Group; and an acknowledgement that neither the entity nor its representatives will receive reimbursement of travel expenses or payment of honoraria from the Commission; and
· A narrative statement detailing the entity’s representative’s and alternate representative’s previous involvement concerning issues relevant to the Committee’s work and their ability and willingness to contribute substantively to the Committee’s deliberations.

	An organization, company, or other entity nominating a representative to serve on its behalf on the Committee must submit written confirmation by an authorized person (e.g., an official of the organization, company, or other entity) that such entity wants the representative to serve on its behalf.  For example, this confirmation may be in the following format: “I am [insert official’s name], the [insert official’s title] at the [insert name of organization - e.g., company, government entity, trade association, etc.], with responsibilities for [concise description of position].  My organization would like [insert proposed representative’s name], who is currently [an employee of/consultant/attorney to the company] to serve as our representative on the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee.”

	All Committee members will have an initial and continuing obligation to disclose any interests in, or connections to, persons or entities that are, or will be, regulated by or have interests in activities regulated by the Commission.

	 The Commission may solicit nominations by methods other than this Public Notice, but all candidates will be subject to the same evaluation criteria.  After the Commission has reviewed nominations, it will notify all nominees in writing concerning the disposition of their nominations, and it will release a Public Notice announcing appointment of the Committee members and the date of the Committee’s first meeting.

	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 FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).

	For further information contact:  Scott Marshall, Designated Federal Officer, 202-418-2809 (voice or relay), scott.marshall@fcc.gov; or Gregory V. Haledjian, Deputy Designated Federal Officer, 202-418-7440 (voice or relay), gregory.haledjian@fcc.gov.


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