§ 0.605   Procedures for announcing meetings.

   (a) Notice of all open and closed meetings will be given.

   (b) The meeting notice will be submitted for publication in the Federal
   Register on or before the date on which the announcement is made. Copies
   will  be available in the Press and News Media Division on the day the
   announcement is made. Copies will also be attached to “FCC Actions Alert”,
   which is mailed to certain individuals and groups who have demonstrated an
   interest in representing the public in Commission proceedings.

   (c)(1) If the agency staff determines that a meeting should be open to the
   public, it will, at least one week prior to the meeting, announce in writing
   the time, place and subject matter of the meeting, that it is to be open to
   the public, and the name and phone number of the Chief, Press and News Media
   Division, who has been designated to respond to requests for information
   about the meeting.

   (2) If the staff determines that a meeting should be closed to the public,
   it will refer the matter to the General Counsel, who will certify that there
   is  (or  is  not) a legal basis for closing the meeting to the public.
   Following action by the General Counsel, the matter may be referred to the
   agency for a vote on the question of closing the meeting (See § 0.606).

   (d)(1) If the question of closing a meeting is considered by the agency but
   no vote is taken, the agency will, at least one week prior to the meeting,
   announce in writing the time, place and subject matter of the meeting, that
   it is to be open to the public, and the name and phone number of the Chief,
   Press and News Media Division.

   (2) If a vote is taken, the agency will, in the same announcement and within
   one  day  after  the  vote, make public the vote of each participating
   Commissioner.

   (3) If the vote is to close the meeting, the agency will also, in that
   announcement, set out a full written explanation of its action, including
   the applicable provision(s) of § 0.603, and a list of persons expected to
   attend the meeting, including Commission personnel, together with their
   affiliations. The Commissioners, their assistants, the General Counsel, the
   Executive  Director, the Chief, Press and News Media Division, and the
   Secretary are expected to attend all Commission meetings. The appropriate
   Bureau or Office Chief and Division Chief are expected to attend meetings
   which relate to their responsibilities (see subpart A of this part).

   (4)  If a meeting is closed, the agency may omit from the announcement
   information  usually included, if and to the extent that it finds that
   disclosure would be likely to have any of the consequences listed in § 0.603.

   (e) If the prompt and orderly conduct of agency business requires that a
   meeting be held less than one week after the announcement of the meeting, or
   before that announcement, the agency will issue the announcement at the
   earliest  practicable  time.  In  addition  to  other information, the
   announcement  will  contain  the vote of each member of the agency who
   participated in the decision to give less than seven days notice, and the
   particular reason for that decision.

   (f) If, after announcement of a meeting, the time or place of the meeting is
   changed or the meeting is cancelled, the agency will announce the change at
   the earliest practicable time.

   (g) If the subject matter or the determination to open or close a meeting is
   changed, the agency will publicly announce the change and the vote of each
   member at the earliest practicable time. The announcement will contain a
   finding  that  agency business requires the change and that no earlier
   announcement of the change was possible.

   (47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 303)

   [ 42 FR 12867 , Mar. 7, 1977, as amended at  44 FR 12425 , Mar. 7, 1979;  44 FR 70472 , Dec. 7, 1979; 64 FE 2150, Jan. 13, 1999]

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