Sec. 1.773  Petitions for suspension or rejection of new tariff filings.

    (a) Petition--(1) Content. Petitions seeking investigation, 
suspension, or rejection of a new or revised tariff filing or any 
provision thereof shall specify the filing's Federal Communications 
Commission tariff number and carrier transmittal number, the items 
against which protest is made, and the specific reasons why the 
protested tariff filing warrants investigation, suspension, or rejection 
under the Communications Act. No petition shall include a prayer that it 
also be considered a formal complaint. Any formal complaint shall be 
filed as a separate pleading as provided in Sec. 1.721.
    (i) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filing or any provision of such a publication, 
must specify the pertinent Federal Communications Commission tariff 
number and carrier transmittal number; the matters protested; and the 
specific reasons why the tariff warrants investigation, suspension, or 
rejection. When a single petition asks for more than one form of relief, 
it must separately and distinctly plead and support each form of relief. 
However, no petiton may ask that it also be considered a formal 
complaint. Formal complaints must be separately lodged, as provided in 
Sec. 1.721.
    (ii) For purposes of this section, tariff filings by nondominant 
carriers will be considered prima facie lawful, and will not be 
suspended by the Commission unless the petition requesting suspension 
shows:
    (A) That there is a high probability the tariff would be found 
unlawful after investigation;
    (B) That the harm alleged to competition would be more substantial 
than the injury to the public arising from the unavailability of the 
service pursuant to the rates and conditions proposed in the tariff 
filing;
    (C) That irreparable injury will result if the tariff filing is not 
suspended; and
    (D) That the suspension would not otherwise be contrary to the 
public interest.
    (iii) For the purpose of this section, any tariff filing by a local 
exchange carrier filed pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 61.39 will 
be considered prima facie lawful and will not be suspended by the 
Commission unless the petition requesting suspension shows that the cost 
and demand studies or average schedule information was not provided upon 
reasonable request. If such a showing is not made, then the filing will 
be considered prima facie lawful and will not be suspended by the 
Commission unless the petition requesting suspension shows each of the 
following:
    (A) That there is a high probability the tariff would be found 
unlawful after investigation;
    (B) That any unreasonable rate would not be corrected in a 
subsequent filing;
    (C) That irreparable injury will result if the tariff filing is not 
suspended; and
    (D) That the suspension would not otherwise be contrary to the 
public interest.
    (iv) For the purposes of this section, tariff filings made pursuant 
to Sec. 61.49(b) by carriers subject to price cap regulation will be 
considered prima facie lawful, and will not be suspended by the 
Commission unless the petition shows that the support information 
required in Sec. 61.49(b) was not provided, or unless the petition 
requesting suspension shows each of the following:
    (A) That there is a high probability the tariff would be found 
unlawful after investigation;

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    (B) That the suspension would not substantially harm other 
interested parties;
    (C) That irreparable injury will result if the tariff filing is not 
suspended; and
    (D) That the suspension would not otherwise be contrary to the 
public interest.
    (2) When filed. All petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filing shall meet the filing 
requirements of this paragraph. In case of emergency and within the time 
limits provided, a telegraphic request for such relief may be sent to 
the Commission setting forth succinctly the substance of the matters 
required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section. A copy of any such 
telegraphic request shall be sent simultaneously to the Chief, Common 
Carrier Bureau, the Chief, Tariff Division, and the publishing carrier. 
Thereafter, the request shall be confirmed by petition filed and served 
in accordance with Sec. 1.773(a)(4).
    (i) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filed pursuant to section 204(a)(3) of the 
Communications Act made on 7 days notice shall be filed and served 
within 3 calendar days after the date of the tariff filing.
    (ii) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filing made on less than 15 days notice shall be 
filed and served within 6 days after the date of the tariff filing.
    (iii) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filing made on at least 15 but less than 30 days 
notice shall be filed and served within 7 days after the date of the 
tariff filing.
    (iv) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filing made on at least 30 but less than 90 days 
notice shall be filed and served within 15 days after the date of the 
tariff filing.
    (v) Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of a 
new or revised tariff filing mode on 90 or more days notice shall be 
filed and served within 25 days after the date of the tariff filing.
    (3) Computation of time. Intermediate holidays shall be counted in 
determining the above filing dates. If the date for filing the petition 
falls on a holiday, the petition shall be filed on the next succeeding 
business day.
    (4) Copies, service. An original and four copies of each petition 
shall be filed with the Commission as follows: the original and three 
copies of each petition shall be filed with the Secretary, FCC room 222, 
1991 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554; one copy must be delivered 
directly to the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M St., NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC. 
Additional, separate copies shall be served simultaneously upon the 
Chief, Common Carrier Bureau; the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division; 
and the Chief, Tariff and Price Analysis Branch of the Competitive 
Pricing Division. Petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff made on 15 days or less notice 
shall be served either personally or via facsimile on the filing 
carrier. If a petition is served via facsimile, a copy of the petition 
must also be sent to the filing carrier via first class mail on the same 
day of the facsimile transmission. Petitions seeking investigation, 
suspension, or rejection of a new or revised tariff filing made on more 
than 15 days notice may be served on the filing carrier by mail.
    (b) Reply--(1) When filed. A publishing carrier's reply to a 
petition for relief from a tariff filing shall be filed in accordance 
with the following periods:
    (i) Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filed pursuant to section 204(a)(3) 
of the Act made on 7 days notice shall be filed and served within 2 days 
after the date the petition is filed with the Commission.
    (ii) Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filing made on less than 15 days 
notice shall be filed and served within 3 days after the date the 
petition is due to be filed with the Commission.
    (iii) Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filing made on at least 15 but less 
than 30 days notice shall be filed and served within 4 days after 
service of the petition.

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    (iv) Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filing made on at least 30 but less 
than 90 days notice shall be filed and served within 5 days after 
service of the petition.
    (v) Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or 
rejection of a new or revised tariff filing made on 90 or more days 
notice shall be filed and served within 8 days after service of the 
petition.
    (vi) Where all petitions against a tariff filing have not been filed 
on the same day, the publishing carrier may file a consolidated reply to 
all the petitions. The time for filing such a consolidated reply will 
begin to run on the last date for timely filed petitions, as fixed by 
paragraphs (a)(2) (i) through (iv) of this section, and the date on 
which the consolidated reply is due will be governed by paragraphs 
(b)(1) (i) through (iv) of this section.
    (2) Computation of time. Intermediate holidays shall be counted in 
determining the 3-day filing date for replies to petitions seeking 
investigation, suspension, or rejection of a new or revised tariff 
filing made on less than 15 days notice. Intermediate holidays shall not 
be counted in determining filing dates for replies to petitions seeking 
investigation, suspension, or rejection of a new or revised tariff 
filing made on 15 or more days notice. When a petition is permitted to 
be served upon the filing carrier by mail, an additional 3 days 
(counting holidays) may be allowed for filing the reply. If the date for 
filing the reply falls on a holiday, the reply may be filed on the next 
succeeding business day.
    (3) Copies, service. An original and four copies of each reply shall 
be filed with the Commission, as follows: the original and three copies 
must be filed with the Secretary, FCC room 222, 1919 M Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20554; one copy must be delivered directly to the 
Commission's Copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 
2100 M St., NW/. Suite 140, Washington, DC. Additional separate copies 
shall be served simultaneously upon the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau; 
the Chief, Competitive Division; and the Chief, Tariff and Price 
Analysis Branch of the Competitive Pricing Division and the petitioner. 
Replies to petitions seeking investigation, suspension, or rejection of 
a new or revised tariff made on 15 days or less notice shall be served 
on petitioners personally or via facsimile. Replies to petitions seeking 
investigation, suspension, or rejection of a new or revised tariff made 
on more than 15 days notice may be served upon petitioner personally, by 
mail or via facsimile.
[ 45 FR 64190 , Sept. 29, 1980, as amended at  49 FR 40876 , Oct. 18, 1984; 
 49 FR 49466 , Dec. 20, 1984;  52 FR 26682 , July 16, 1987;  54 FR 19840 , May 
8, 1989;  58 FR 17529 , Apr. 5, 1993;  58 FR 51247 , Oct. 1, 1993;  62 FR 5777 , Feb. 7, 1997]

    Contracts, Reports, and Requests Required to be Filed by Carriers