Goto Section: 0.131 | 0.151 | Table of Contents
FCC 0.141
Revised as of December 4, 2012
Goto Year:2011 |
2013
§ 0.141 Functions of the Bureau.
The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau develops and administers
the Commission's consumer and governmental affairs policies and
initiatives to enhance the public's understanding of the Commission's
work and to facilitate the Agency's relationships with other
governmental agencies and organizations. The Bureau is responsible for
rulemaking proceedings regarding general consumer education policies
and procedures and serves as the primary Commission entity responsible
for communicating with the general public regarding Commission
policies, programs, and activities in order to facilitate public
participation in the Commission's decision-making processes. The Bureau
also performs the following functions:
(a) Advises and makes recommendations to the Commission, or acts for
the Commission under delegated authority, in matters pertaining to
consumers and governmental affairs. This includes policy development
and coordination as well as adjudication and rulemaking.
(b) Collaborates with, and advises and assists, the public, state and
local governments, and other governmental agencies and industry groups
on consumer matters.
(c) Advises the Commission and other Bureaus and Offices of consumer
and governmental affairs-related areas of concern or interest;
initiates, reviews, and coordinates orders, programs and actions, in
conjunction with other Bureaus and Offices, in matters regarding
consumer education policies and procedures, and any other related
issues affecting consumer policy; represents the Commission on consumer
and governmental-related committees, working groups, task forces and
conferences within and outside the Commission; and provides expert
advice and assistance to Bureaus and Offices and consumers regarding
compliance with applicable disability and accessibility requirements,
rules, and regulations.
(d) Collects and analyzes information from industry, other Bureaus and
Offices, and the media, as well as information received in the Bureau
from informal consumer inquiries and complaints, rulemakings, and
consumer forums; identifies trends that affect consumers; in
consultation with the Office of the Managing Director, provides
objectives and evaluation methods for the public information portion of
the Commission's Government Performance and Results Act submissions and
other Commission-wide strategic planning efforts.
(e) Researches, develops, and distributes materials to inform consumers
about the Commission's rules, proposals, and events, and to promote
consumer participation in Commission rulemakings and activities;
maintains the Commission's Consumer Information Directory; develops a
library of commonly requested materials on issues of interest to all
consumers. Ensures that alternative translations of Commission
materials are available to Commission employees, Bureaus, Offices, and
members of the public.
(f) Advises and makes recommendations to the Commission, or acts for
the Commission under delegated authority, in matters pertaining to
persons with disabilities. Provides expert advice and assistance, as
required, to other Bureaus and Offices, consumers, industry, and others
on issues relevant to persons with disabilities. Initiates rulemakings,
where appropriate; reviews relevant agenda items and other documents
and coordinates with Bureaus and Offices to develop recommendations and
propose policies to ensure that communications are accessible to
persons with disabilities, in conformance with existing disability laws
and policies, and that they support the Commission's goal of increasing
accessibility of communications services and technologies for persons
with disabilities.
(g) Plans, develops, and conducts consumer outreach and education
initiatives to educate the public about important Commission regulatory
programs. In coordination with other Bureaus and Offices, establishes
liaison(s) for information sharing purposes to ensure coordination on
all consumer outreach projects. Ensures that alternative translations
of Commission materials are available to Commission employees, Bureaus,
Offices and members of the public.
(h) Serves as the official FCC records custodian for designated
records, including intake processing, organization and file
maintenance, reference services, and retirement and retrieval of
records; manages the Electronic Comment Filing System and certifies
records for adjudicatory and court proceedings. Maintains manual and
computerized files that provide for the public inspection of public
record materials concerning Broadcast Ownership, AM/FM/TV, TV
translators, FM Translators, Cable TV, Wireless, Auction, Common
Carrier Tariff matters, International space station files, earth
station files, DBS files, and other miscellaneous international files.
Also maintains for public inspection Time Brokerage and Affiliation
Agreements, court citation files, and legislative histories concerning
telecommunications dockets. Provides the public and Commission staff
prompt access to manual and computerized records and filing systems.
Periodically reviews the status of open docketed proceedings and,
following:
(1) Consultation with and concurrence from the relevant bureau or
office with responsibility for a particular proceeding,
(2) The issuance of a public notice listing proceedings under
consideration for termination, and;
(3) A reasonable period during which interested parties may comment,
closes any docket in which no further action is required or
contemplated (with termination constituting a final determination in
any such proceeding).
(i) Provides informal mediation and resolution of individual informal
consumer inquiries and complaints consistent with Commission
regulations. Resolves certain classes of informal complaints, as
specified by the Commission, through findings of fact and issuance of
orders. Receives, reviews, and analyzes responses to informal
complaints; maintains manual and computerized files that permit the
public inspection of informal consumer complaints; mediates and
attempts to settle unresolved disputes in informal complaints as
appropriate; and coordinates with other Bureaus and Offices to ensure
that consumers are provided with accurate, up-to-date information.
Develops and fosters partnerships with state regulatory entities to
promote the sharing of information pertaining to informal complaint
files maintained by the Bureau.
(j) Provides leadership to other Bureaus and Offices for dissemination
of consumer information via the Internet.
(k) In coordination with other Bureaus and Offices, handles
Congressional and other correspondence related to specific informal
consumer complaints, or other specific matters within the
responsibility of the Bureau, to the extent not otherwise handled by
the Office of General Counsel or other Bureaus or Offices. Responds to
and/or coordinates due diligence and other requests for information
pertaining to informal inquiries and complaints under the
responsibility of the Bureau with other Bureaus and Offices.
[ 67 FR 13219 , Mar. 21, 2002, as amended at 76 FR 24388 , May 2, 2011]
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Goto Section: 0.131 | 0.151
Goto Year: 2011 |
2013
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