Sec. 1.274  Certification of the record to the Commission for initial or 
          final decision.

    (a) Where the presiding officer is available to the Commission, and 
where the Commission finds upon the record that due and timely execution 
of its functions imperatively and unavoidably so requires, the 
Commission may direct that the record in a pending proceeding be 
certified to it for initial or final decision. Unless the Commission 
finds that due and timely execution of its functions imperatively and 
unavoidably requires that no recommended decision be issued, the 
presiding officer will prepare and file a recommended decision, which 
will be released with the Commission's initial or final decision.
    (b) Where the presiding officer becomes unavailable to the 
Commission after the taking of testimony has been concluded, the 
Commission may direct that the record in a pending proceeding be 
certified to it for initial or final decision. In that event, the record 
shall be certified to the Commission by the Chief Administrative Law 
Judge.
    (c)(1) Where the presiding officer becomes unavailable to the 
Commission after the taking of evidence has commenced but before it has 
been concluded, the Commission may order a rehearing before another 
presiding officer designated in accordance with Sec. 1.241.
    (2) Upon a finding that due and timely execution of its functions 
imperatively and unavoidably so requires, the Commission may (as an 
alternative) order that the hearing be continued by another presiding 
officer designated in accordance with Sec. 1.241 or by the Commission 
itself. In that event, the officer continuing the hearing shall, upon 
completion of the hearing, certify the proceeding to the Commission for 
an initial or final decision. Unless the Commission finds upon the 
record that due and timely execution of its functions imperatively and 
unavoidably requires that no recommended decision be issued, the officer 
continuing the hearing shall prepare and file a recommended decision to 
be released with the Commission's initial or final decision. If all the 
parties expressly consent, and if the Commission does not order 
otherwise, the officer continuing the hearing may prepare an initial 
decision.

(Sec. 409, 48 Stat. 1096, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 409)