§  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]

   

Office of Administrative Law Judges