NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
February 18, 2010      David Fiske at (202) 418-0513
e-mail: David.Fiske@fcc.gov
FCC PROPOSES RULE CHANGES TO IMPROVE DECISION-MAKING AND 
EFFICIENCY, PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN FCC PROCEEDINGS
Agency Seeks Public Comment on Proposals to Reform Its Procedures
Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission has proposed revisions to 
its rules as part of its larger effort to reform and transform the agency into a model of excellence 
in government.  In two notices of proposed rulemaking approved today, the FCC seeks public 
comment on revisions to rules governing Commission practice and procedure, and its “ex parte” 
rules dealing with communications between stakeholders and decision-makers at the agency.
The Procedures NPRM. In one notice of proposed rulemaking, the Commission 
proposes changes to its procedural and organization rules concerning reconsideration of agency 
proceedings and case management, as well as other miscellaneous procedural rules. The 
proposals are designed to enhance efficiency and reduce backlogs, improve the transparency and 
openness of FCC proceedings by making it easier for interested persons to follow and participate 
in the process, and reduce confusion by the public about certain deadlines.  The major proposals 
in the NPRM include:
Improving Case Management:
· Leverage electronic resources to expand the use of docketed proceedings and maximize 
electronic filing through the Commission’s improved Electronic Comment Filing System
· Delegate authority to the staff to terminate inactive dockets
· Delegate authority to the staff to serve parties to FCC proceedings electronically
Streamlining Reconsideration of Agency Proceedings:
· Delegate authority to bureau and office chiefs to dismiss or deny defective or repetitious 
reconsideration petitions that do not warrant consideration by the full Commission
· Amend the rule which permits the Commission, on its own motion, to reconsider any 
FCC action within 30 days of public notice of that decision to make clear that the 
Commission may modify its decision, not merely set it aside or vacate it
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Clarifying Deadlines:
· Amend procedural rules to make clear that when an FCC rule or order requires action by 
the Commission on a weekend or holiday, the action must be taken by the next business 
day
· Adopt a default effective date for new rules when the FCC does not specify an effective 
date in the relevant rulemaking orders.
The Ex Parte NPRM.  In the second notice of proposed rulemaking, the Commission 
proposes changes to its rules governing disclosure of communications with Commission staff 
and decision makers, when all parties to a proceeding are not present (so-called ex parte
communications).  Building on suggestions and recommendations made by participants at a 
public workshop held in October 2009, and based on its own experience with the disclosure 
rules, the FCC proposes rule changes designed to make the Commission’s decision-making 
processes more open, transparent, fair, and effective.  The major proposals in the NPRM include:
Improving the Completeness, Accuracy, and Timeliness of Disclosure:
· Require the public filing of a summary of every oral ex parte presentation; under current 
rules, a summary does not need to be filed unless information or arguments are presented 
for the first time
· Require the filing of a notice that summarizes all data and arguments presented
· Establish a preference for electronic filing of all notices of ex parte presentations
· Require faster electronic filing, within four hours, of notices of permitted ex parte
presentations made during the “Sunshine Period” – which typically begins a week before 
a public Commission Meeting, for those items on the Meeting agenda
Sunshine Period Issues:
· Seek comment on whether current exceptions to the Sunshine Period’s prohibition on ex 
parte presentations should be narrowed or modified to prevent abuse and promote 
fairness
· Start the Sunshine Period prohibition at midnight after a Sunshine notice has issued
Disclosure Statements:
· Seek comment on whether to require disclosure of ownership or other information in 
filings at the Commission, including adopting various disclosure requirements currently 
used by federal courts, and the extent to which ownership information already available 
to the FCC may suffice
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Sanctions and Enforcement:
· Seek comment on sanctions and enforcement concerning violations of the ex parte rules
New Media:
· Seek comment on how the ex parte rules should apply in the context of new media, such 
as Internet blog postings.
Action by the Commission February 18, 2010 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 10-
32).  Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker with 
Chairman Genachowski and Commissioners Copps, McDowell and Clyburn issuing separate 
statements (Procedures NPRM)
Action by the Commission February 18, 2010 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 10-
31).  Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker with 
Chairman Genachowski and Commissioners Copps, McDowell and Clyburn issuing separate 
statements (Ex Parte NPRM)
OGC contacts: Richard Welch (Procedures NPRM) at (202) 418-7225 and Julie Veach (Ex Parte
NPRM) at (202) 418-1558.
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