Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-3675
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2]
Introduced: 2013-12-09
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Atmospheric science and weather

Census and government statistics

Congressional oversight

Consumer affairs

Economic performance and conditions

Emergency communications systems

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Freedom of information

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Licensing and registrations

Performance measurement

Telecommunication rates and fees

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2014-03-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-12-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish procedural requirements for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning: (1) the issuance of proposed rulemaking notices, including the time periods for comments and replies and any necessary findings, background information, or performance measures that must be contained in such notices; (2) FCC Commissioners' deliberations, including public notice requirements, schedules, and publication deadlines for&nbsp;decisions, orders, open rulemakings, closed meetings, ex parte communications, reports to Congress, and Federal Register publications; and (3) the agency information and documents required to be made publicly available on the FCC website. </p> <p>Requires the FCC, before adopting or amending a rule that may have an economically significant impact, to: (1) analyze the specified market failure, actual consumer harm, burden of existing regulation, or failure of public institutions that warrants the rule or amendment; (2) determine that the benefits justify its costs; and (3) find that market forces are unlikely to resolve the underlying issues within a reasonable period of time. Prohibits a cost-benefit analysis determination from being subject to judicial review.</p> <p>Defines "economically significant impact" as an effect on the economy of at least $100 million annually or a material adverse effect on the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities.</p> <p>Sets forth standards that restrict the FCC's authority to conditionally approve line and license transfers and other transactions. Requires any such conditional approval to: (1) remedy a harm that would likely arise as a direct result of the specific transfer or transaction (such that the harm is not presented by persons not involved in such transfer or transaction), and (2) be within the FCC's jurisdiction apart from its authority to review the transaction. Prohibits the FCC from considering a voluntary commitment of a party to such transfer or transaction unless the FCC could adopt that commitment as a condition under such standards.</p> <p>Prohibits the FCC, in compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, from categorizing an inquiry or complaint under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (places restrictions on telephone solicitations and automatic dialing systems) as a wireline or wireless inquiry or complaint unless a wireline or wireless carrier was the subject of the inquiry or complaint.</p>

action_date: 2014-01-31
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p>Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete a rulemaking proceeding to adopt rules establishing:</p> <ul> <li>minimum comment and reply periods for rulemakings;</li> <li>policies to ensure that the public has notice and an opportunity to respond to comments, ex parte communications, or materials submitted toward the end of, or after, the comment period; </li> <li>procedures for publishing the status of open rulemakings and items circulated for Commissioners' review;</li> <li>deadlines for public notice, and guidelines for disposition, of certain petitions; and </li> <li>procedures to include the specific language of proposed rules or amendments in proposed rulemaking notices. </li> </ul> <p>Requires performance measures to be included in notices of proposed rulemakings or orders that would create or substantially change a program activity. Defines &quot;program activity&quot; as a specific activity or project as listed in the program and financing schedules of the U.S. annual budget, including any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the FCC of $100 million or more. <p>Directs the FCC to seek public comment regarding whether the FCC should: (1) establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place items on an open meeting agenda and for publishing in advance of such meetings the text of agenda items on which the FCC will vote; (2) establish deadlines for the disposition of certain license applications; and (3) publish orders, decisions, reports, and actions within 30 days after adoption. <p>Requires the FCC to initiate a new rulemaking proceeding every five years to continue its consideration of procedural rule changes. <p>Allows a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to hold a nonpublic meeting, including a meeting to collaborate with joint boards or conferences, if: (1) no votes or actions are taken, and (2) an attorney from the FCC's Office of General Counsel is present. Requires such a closed meeting to be disclosed within two business days after the meeting, along with a list of persons in attendance and a summary of discussed matters, provided that such matters are not classified or otherwise exempt from disclosure. </p> <p>Directs the FCC to provide on its website: (1) information regarding the FCC's budget, appropriations, and total number of full-time equivalent employees; (2) the FCC's annual performance plan; and (3) information about consumer complaints in a publicly available, searchable database.</p> <p>Directs the FCC to complete actions necessary for the required publication of documents in the Federal Register within specified time frames.</p> <p>Requires the FCC to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting disclosure and other requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including by: (1) publishing on the FCC website its logs for managing FOIA requests and associated fees, (2) releasing decisions to grant or deny requests, and (3) presenting information about the number of FOIA requests received and granted or denied by the FCC in its annual budget estimates and annual performance and financial reports.</p> <p>Directs the FCC, by January 15th of each year, to publish on its website and in other required formats an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress.</p> <p>Requires annual reports to Congress on the FCC's performance in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines and guidelines established by this Act. </p>    <p>(Sec. 3) Prohibits the FCC, in compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, from categorizing an inquiry or complaint under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (places restrictions on telephone solicitations and automatic dialing systems) as a wireline or wireless inquiry or complaint unless a wireline or wireless carrier was the subject of the inquiry or complaint.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Exempts permanently from the Antideficiency Act (prohibits expenditures or obligations of federal funds exceeding an amount available in an appropriation or fund) the collection of Universal Service Fund contributions and the use of such contributions for universal service support programs. (Currently, universal service funds are collected and distributed under a temporary waiver provided in the Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary Suspension Act.)</p>

action_date: 2014-03-11
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete a rulemaking proceeding to adopt rules establishing:</p> <ul> <li>minimum comment and reply periods for rulemakings;</li> <li>policies to ensure that the public has notice and an opportunity to respond to comments, ex parte communications, or materials submitted toward the end of, or after, the comment period; </li> <li>procedures for publishing the status of open rulemakings and items circulated for Commissioners' review;</li> <li>deadlines for public notice, and guidelines for disposition, of certain petitions; and </li> <li>procedures to include the specific language of proposed rules or amendments in proposed rulemaking notices. </li> </ul> <p>Requires performance measures to be included in notices of proposed rulemakings or orders that would create or substantially change a program activity. Defines &quot;program activity&quot; as a specific activity or project as listed in the program and financing schedules of the U.S. annual budget, including any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the FCC of $100 million or more. <p>Directs the FCC to seek public comment regarding whether the FCC should: (1) establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place items on an open meeting agenda and for publishing in advance of such meetings the text of agenda items on which the FCC will vote; (2) establish deadlines for the disposition of certain license applications; and (3) publish orders, decisions, reports, and actions within 30 days after adoption. <p>Requires the FCC to initiate a new rulemaking proceeding every five years to continue its consideration of procedural rule changes. <p>Allows a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to hold a nonpublic meeting, including a meeting to collaborate with joint boards or conferences, if: (1) no votes or actions are taken, and (2) an attorney from the FCC's Office of General Counsel is present. Requires such a closed meeting to be disclosed within two business days after the meeting, along with a list of persons in attendance and a summary of discussed matters, provided that such matters are not classified or otherwise exempt from disclosure. </p> <p>Directs the FCC to provide on its website: (1) information regarding the FCC's budget, appropriations, and total number of full-time equivalent employees; (2) the FCC's annual performance plan; and (3) information about consumer complaints in a publicly available, searchable database.</p> <p>Directs the FCC to complete actions necessary for the required publication of documents in the Federal Register within specified time frames.</p> <p>Requires the FCC to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting disclosure and other requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including by: (1) publishing on the FCC website its logs for managing FOIA requests and associated fees, (2) releasing decisions to grant or deny requests, and (3) presenting information about the number of FOIA requests received and granted or denied by the FCC in its annual budget estimates and annual performance and financial reports.</p> <p>Directs the FCC, by January 15th of each year, to publish on its website and in other required formats an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress.</p> <p>Requires annual reports to Congress on the FCC's performance in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines and guidelines established by this Act. </p> <p>(Sec. 3) Prohibits the FCC, in compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, from categorizing an inquiry or complaint under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (places restrictions on telephone solicitations and automatic dialing systems) as a wireline or wireless inquiry or complaint unless a wireline or wireless carrier was the subject of the inquiry or complaint.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) Amends the Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary Suspension Act to extend through December 31, 2020, the waiver of certain limitations on: (1) expending, obligating, or apportioning appropriations with respect to federal universal service contributions collected or received under the Communications Act of 1934; and (2) expending or obligating funds attributable to such contributions for universal service support programs.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3675 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 9, 2013 Mr. Walden (for himself and Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 . 2. FCC process reform (a) In general Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 13. Transparency and efficiency (a) Rulemaking requirements (1) Requirements for notices of proposed rulemaking The Commission may not issue a notice of proposed rulemaking unless the Commission provides for a period of not less than 30 days for the submission of comments and an additional period of not less than 30 days for the submission of reply comments on such notice and the Commission includes in such notice the following: (A) Either— (i) an identification of— (I) a notice of inquiry, a prior notice of proposed rulemaking, or a notice on a petition for rulemaking issued by the Commission during the 3-year period preceding the issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking concerned and of which such notice is a logical outgrowth; or (II) an order of a court reviewing action by the Commission or otherwise directing the Commission to act that was issued by the court during the 3-year period preceding the issuance of the notice of proposed rulemaking concerned and in response to which such notice is being issued; or (ii) a finding (together with a brief statement of reasons therefor)— (I) that the proposed rule or the proposed amendment of an existing rule will not impose additional burdens on industry or consumers; or (II) for good cause, that a notice of inquiry is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. (B) The specific language of the proposed rule or the proposed amendment of an existing rule. (C) In the case of a proposal to create a program activity, proposed performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity. (D) In the case of a proposal to substantially change a program activity— (i) proposed performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity as proposed to be changed; or (ii) a proposed finding that existing performance measures will effectively evaluate the program activity as proposed to be changed. (2) Requirements for rules Except as provided in the 3rd sentence of section 553(b) of title 5, United States Code, the Commission may not adopt or amend a rule unless— (A) the specific language of the adopted rule or the amendment of an existing rule is a logical outgrowth of the specific language of a proposed rule or a proposed amendment of an existing rule included in a notice of proposed rulemaking, as described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1); (B) such notice of proposed rulemaking— (i) was issued in compliance with such paragraph and during the 3-year period preceding the adoption of the rule or the amendment of an existing rule; and (ii) is identified in the order making the adoption or amendment; (C) in the case of the adoption of a rule or the amendment of an existing rule that may have an economically significant impact, the order contains— (i) an identification and analysis of the specific market failure, actual consumer harm, burden of existing regulation, or failure of public institutions that warrants the adoption or amendment; (ii) a reasoned determination that the benefits of the adopted rule or the amendment of an existing rule justify its costs (recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify), taking into account alternative forms of regulation and the need to tailor regulation to impose the least burden on society, consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives; and (iii) a reasoned determination that market forces are unlikely to resolve within a reasonable period of time the specific market failure, actual consumer harm, burden of existing regulation, or failure of public institutions identified under clause (i); (D) in the case of the adoption of a rule or the amendment of an existing rule that creates a program activity, the order contains performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity; and (E) in the case of the adoption of a rule or the amendment of an existing rule that substantially changes a program activity, the order contains— (i) performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity as changed; or (ii) a finding that existing performance measures will effectively evaluate the program activity as changed. (3) Data for performance measures The Commission shall develop a performance measure or proposed performance measure required by this subsection to rely, where possible, on data already collected by the Commission. (4) Cost-benefit determination not subject to judicial review A determination under paragraph (2)(C)(ii) shall not be subject to judicial review. (b) Adequate deliberation by Commissioners The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for— (1) informing all Commissioners of a reasonable number of options available to the Commission for resolving a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding; (2) ensuring that all Commissioners have adequate time, prior to being required to decide a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding (including at a meeting held pursuant to section 5(d)), to review the proposed Commission decision document, including the specific language of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment of an existing rule; and (3) publishing the text of agenda items to be voted on at an open meeting in advance of such meeting so that the public has the opportunity to read the text before a vote is taken. (c) Nonpublic collaborative discussions (1) In general Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, United States Code, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners may hold a meeting that is closed to the public to discuss official business if— (A) a vote or any other agency action is not taken at such meeting; (B) each person present at such meeting is a Commissioner, an employee of the Commission, a member of a joint board or conference established under section 410, or a person on the staff of such a joint board or conference or of a member of such a joint board or conference; and (C) an attorney from the Office of General Counsel of the Commission is present at such meeting. (2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions Not later than 2 business days after the conclusion of a meeting held under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish a disclosure of such meeting, including— (A) a list of the persons who attended such meeting; and (B) a summary of the matters discussed at such meeting, except for such matters as the Commission determines may be withheld under section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency action Nothing in this subsection shall limit the applicability of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, with respect to a meeting of Commissioners other than that described in paragraph (1). (d) Initiation of items by bipartisan majority The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to— (1) direct Commission staff to draft an order, decision, report, or action for review by the Commission; and (2) place an order, decision, report, or action on the agenda of an open meeting. (e) Public review of certain reports and ex parte communications (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commission may not rely, in any order, decision, report, or action, on— (A) a statistical report or report to Congress, unless the Commission has published and made such report available for comment for not less than a 30-day period prior to the adoption of such order, decision, report, or action; or (B) an ex parte communication or any filing with the Commission, unless the public has been afforded adequate notice of and opportunity to respond to such communication or filing, in accordance with procedures to be established by the Commission by rule. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) does not apply when the Commission for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the order, decision, report, or action) that publication or availability of a report under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph or notice of and opportunity to respond to an ex parte communication under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. (f) Publication of status of certain proceedings and items The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for publishing the status of all open rulemaking proceedings and all proposed orders, decisions, reports, or actions on circulation for review by the Commissioners, including which Commissioners have not cast a vote on an order, decision, report, or action that has been on circulation for more than 60 days. (g) Deadlines for action The Commission shall by rule establish deadlines for any Commission order, decision, report, or action for each of the various categories of petitions, applications, complaints, and other filings seeking Commission action, including filings seeking action through authority delegated under section 5(c)(1). (h) Prompt release of certain reports and decision documents (1) Statistical reports and reports to Congress (A) Release schedule Not later than January 15th of each year, the Commission shall identify, catalog, and publish an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress that are regularly or intermittently released by the Commission and will be released during such year. (B) Publication deadlines The Commission shall publish each report identified in a schedule published under subparagraph (A) not later than the date indicated in such schedule for the anticipated release of such report. (2) Decision documents The Commission shall publish each order, decision, report, or action not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of such order, decision, report, or action. (3) Effect if deadlines not met (A) Notification of Congress If the Commission fails to publish an order, decision, report, or action by a deadline described in paragraph (1)(B) or (2), the Commission shall, not later than 7 days after such deadline and every 14 days thereafter until the publication of the order, decision, report, or action, notify by letter the chairpersons and ranking members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. Such letter shall identify such order, decision, report, or action, specify the deadline, describe the reason for the delay, and indicate when the Commission anticipates that such order, decision, report, or action will be published. The Commission shall publish such letter. (B) No impact on effectiveness The failure of the Commission to publish an order, decision, report, or action by a deadline described in paragraph (1)(B) or (2) shall not render such order, decision, report, or action ineffective when published. (i) Biannual scorecard reports (1) In general For the 6-month period beginning on January 1st of each year and the 6-month period beginning on July 1st of each year, the Commission shall prepare a report on the performance of the Commission in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines established under subsections (g), (h)(1)(B), and (h)(2). (2) Contents Each report required by paragraph (1) shall contain detailed statistics on such performance, including, with respect to each Bureau of the Commission— (A) in the case of performance in meeting the deadlines established under subsection (g), with respect to each category established under such subsection— (i) the number of petitions, applications, complaints, and other filings seeking Commission action that were pending on the last day of the period covered by such report; (ii) the number of filings described in clause (i) that were not resolved by the deadlines established under such subsection and the average length of time such filings have been pending; and (iii) for petitions, applications, complaints, and other filings seeking Commission action that were resolved during such period, the average time between initiation and resolution and the percentage resolved by the deadlines established under such subsection; (B) in the case of proceedings before an administrative law judge— (i) the number of such proceedings completed during such period; and (ii) the number of such proceedings pending on the last day of such period; and (C) the number of independent studies or analyses published by the Commission during such period. (3) Publication and submission The Commission shall publish and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate each report required by paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 30 days after the last day of the period covered by such report. (j) Transaction review standards (1) In general The Commission shall condition its approval of a transfer of lines, a transfer of licenses, or any other transaction under section 214, 309, or 310 or any other provision of this Act only if— (A) the imposed condition is a remedy to a harm that would likely arise as a direct result of the specific transfer or specific transaction that this Act empowers the Commission to review; (B) the Commission could impose a similar requirement under the authority of a specific provision of law other than a provision empowering the Commission to review a transfer of lines, a transfer of licenses, or other transaction; and (C) the likely harm described in subparagraph (A) is presented by the specific transfer of lines, transfer of licenses, or other transaction, such that the harm is not presented by persons not involved in the transfer or other transaction. (2) Exclusions In reviewing a transfer of lines, a transfer of licenses, or any other transaction under section 214, 309, or 310 or any other provision of this Act, the Commission may not consider a voluntary commitment of a party to such transfer or transaction unless the Commission could adopt that voluntary commitment as a condition under paragraph (1). (k) Access to certain information on Commission’s website The Commission shall provide direct access from the homepage of its website to— (1) detailed information regarding— (A) the budget of the Commission for the current fiscal year; (B) the appropriations for the Commission for such fiscal year; and (C) the total number of full-time equivalent employees of the Commission; and (2) the performance plan most recently made available by the Commission under section 1115(b) of title 31, United States Code. (l) Federal Register publication (1) In general In the case of any document adopted by the Commission that the Commission is required, under any provision of law, to publish in the Federal Register, the Commission shall, not later than the date described in paragraph (2), complete all Commission actions necessary for such document to be so published. (2) Date described The date described in this paragraph is the earlier of— (A) the day that is 45 days after the date of the release of the document; or (B) the day by which such actions must be completed to comply with any deadline under any other provision of law. (3) No effect on deadlines for publication in other form In the case of a deadline that does not specify that the form of publication is publication in the Federal Register, the Commission may comply with such deadline by publishing the document in another form. Such other form of publication does not relieve the Commission of any Federal Register publication requirement applicable to such document, including the requirement of paragraph (1). (m) Consumer complaint database (1) In general In evaluating and processing consumer complaints, the Commission shall present information about such complaints in a publicly available, searchable database on its website that— (A) facilitates easy use by consumers; and (B) to the extent practicable, is sortable and accessible by— (i) the date of the filing of the complaint; (ii) the topic of the complaint; (iii) the party complained of; and (iv) other elements that the Commission considers in the public interest. (2) Duplicative complaints In the case of multiple complaints arising from the same alleged misconduct, the Commission shall be required to include only information concerning one such complaint in the database described in paragraph (1). (n) Form of publication (1) In general In complying with a requirement of this section to publish a document, the Commission shall publish such document on its website, in addition to publishing such document in any other form that the Commission is required to use or is permitted to and chooses to use. (2) Exception The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for redacting documents required to be published by this section so that the published versions of such documents do not contain— (A) information the publication of which would be detrimental to national security, homeland security, law enforcement, or public safety; or (B) information that is proprietary or confidential. (o) Transparency relating to performance in meeting FOIA requirements The Commission shall take additional steps to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting the disclosure and other requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), including by doing the following: (1) Publishing on the Commission’s website the Commission’s logs for tracking, responding to, and managing requests submitted under such section, including the Commission’s fee estimates, fee categories, and fee request determinations. (2) Releasing to the public all decisions made by the Commission (including decisions made by the Commission’s Bureaus and Offices) granting or denying requests filed under such section, including any such decisions pertaining to the estimate and application of fees assessed under such section. (3) Publishing on the Commission’s website electronic copies of documents released under such section. (4) Presenting information about the Commission’s handling of requests under such section in the Commission’s annual budget estimates submitted to Congress and the Commission’s annual performance and financial reports. Such information shall include the number of requests under such section the Commission received in the most recent fiscal year, the number of such requests granted and denied, a comparison of the Commission’s processing of such requests over at least the previous 3 fiscal years, and a comparison of the Commission’s results with the most recent average for the United States Government as published on www.foia.gov. (p) Definitions In this section: (1) Amendment The term amendment includes, when used with respect to an existing rule, the deletion of such rule. (2) Bipartisan majority The term bipartisan majority means, when used with respect to a group of Commissioners, that such group— (A) is a group of 3 or more Commissioners; and (B) includes, for each political party of which any Commissioner is a member, at least 1 Commissioner who is a member of such political party, and, if any Commissioner has no political party affiliation, at least 1 unaffiliated Commissioner. (3) Economically significant impact The term economically significant impact means an effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more annually or a material adverse effect on the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. (4) Performance measure The term performance measure means an objective and quantifiable outcome measure or output measure (as such terms are defined in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code). (5) Program activity The term program activity has the meaning given such term in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, except that such term also includes any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the Commission of an amount that is greater than or equal to $100,000,000. (6) Other definitions The terms agency action , ex parte communication , and rule have the meanings given such terms in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. . (b) Effective date and implementing rules (1) Effective date (A) In general The requirements of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply beginning on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Prior notices of proposed rulemaking If the Federal Communications Commission identifies under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) of subsection (a) of such section 13 a notice of proposed rulemaking issued prior to the date of the enactment of this Act— (i) such notice shall be deemed to have complied with paragraph (1) of such subsection; and (ii) if such notice did not contain the specific language of a proposed rule or a proposed amendment of an existing rule, paragraph (2)(A) of such subsection shall be satisfied if the adopted rule or the amendment of an existing rule is a logical outgrowth of such notice. (C) Schedules and reports Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), subsections (h)(1) and (i) of such section shall apply with respect to 2014 and any year thereafter. (2) Rules The Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate the rules necessary to carry out such section not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Procedures for adopting rules Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A), in promulgating rules to carry out such section, the Federal Communications Commission shall comply with the requirements of subsections (a) and (h)(2) of such section. 3. Categorization of TCPA inquiries and complaints in quarterly report In compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, the Federal Communications Commission may not categorize an inquiry or complaint with respect to section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 227 ) as being a wireline inquiry or complaint or a wireless inquiry or complaint unless the party whose conduct is the subject of the inquiry or complaint is a wireline carrier or a wireless carrier, respectively. 4. Provision of emergency weather information Nothing in subsection (a) of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by section 2 of this Act, shall be construed to impede the Federal Communications Commission from acting in times of emergency to ensure the availability of efficient and effective communications systems to alert the public to imminent dangerous weather conditions. 5. Communications of first responders Nothing in subsection (a) of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by section 2 of this Act, shall be construed to impede the Federal Communications Commission from acting in times of emergency to ensure the availability of efficient and effective communications systems for State and local first responders. 6. Effect on other laws Nothing in this Act or the amendment made by this Act shall relieve the Federal Communications Commission from any obligations under title 5, United States Code, except where otherwise expressly provided.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 251 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3675 [Report No. 113–338] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 9, 2013 Mr. Walden (for himself and Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce January 31, 2014 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 9, 2013 A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 . 2. FCC process reform (a) In general Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 13. Transparency and efficiency (a) Initial rulemaking and inquiry (1) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 , the Commission shall complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt procedural changes to its rules to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (2) Requirements for rulemaking The rules adopted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) set minimum comment periods for comment and reply comment, subject to a determination by the Commission that good cause exists for departing from such minimum comment periods, for— (i) significant regulatory actions, as defined in Executive Order 12866; and (ii) all other rulemaking proceedings; (B) establish policies concerning the submission of extensive new comments, data, or reports towards the end of the comment period; (C) establish policies regarding treatment of comments, ex parte communications, and data or reports (including statistical reports and reports to Congress) submitted after the comment period to ensure that the public has adequate notice of and opportunity to respond to such submissions before the Commission relies on such submissions in any order, decision, report, or action; (D) establish procedures for publishing the status of open rulemaking proceedings and proposed orders, decisions, reports, or actions on circulation for review by the Commissioners, including which Commissioners have not cast a vote on an order, decision, report, or action that has been on circulation for more than 60 days; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for— (i) in the case of a petition for a declaratory ruling under section 1.2 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, issuing a public notice of such petition; (ii) in the case of a petition for rulemaking under section 1.401 of such title, issuing a public notice of such petition; and (iii) in the case of a petition for reconsideration under section 1.106 or 1.429 of such title or an application for review under section 1.115 of such title, issuing a public notice of a decision on the petition or application by the Commission or under delegated authority (as the case may be); (F) establish guidelines (relative to the date of filing) for the disposition of petitions filed under section 1.2 of such title; (G) establish procedures for the inclusion of the specific language of the proposed rule or the proposed amendment of an existing rule in a notice of proposed rulemaking; and (H) require notices of proposed rulemaking and orders adopting a rule or amending an existing rule that— (i) create (or propose to create) a program activity to contain performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity; and (ii) substantially change (or propose to substantially change) a program activity to contain— (I) performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed); or (II) a finding that existing performance measures will effectively evaluate the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed). (3) Inquiry Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 , the Commission shall complete an inquiry to seek public comment on whether and how the Commission should— (A) establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place an order, decision, report, or action on the agenda of an open meeting; (B) establish procedures for informing all Commissioners of a reasonable number of options available to the Commission for resolving a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding; (C) establish procedures for ensuring that all Commissioners have adequate time, prior to being required to decide a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding (including at a meeting held pursuant to section 5(d)), to review the proposed Commission decision document, including the specific language of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment of an existing rule; (D) establish procedures for publishing the text of agenda items to be voted on at an open meeting in advance of such meeting so that the public has the opportunity to read the text before a vote is taken; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for disposition of applications for a license under section 1.913 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations; (F) assign resources needed in order to meet the deadlines described in subparagraph (E), including whether the Commission’s ability to meet such deadlines would be enhanced by assessing a fee from applicants for such a license; and (G) publish each order, decision, report, or action not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of such order, decision, report, or action. (4) Data for performance measures The Commission shall develop a performance measure or proposed performance measure required by this subsection to rely, where possible, on data already collected by the Commission. (b) Periodic review On the date that is 5 years after the completion of the rulemaking proceeding under subsection (a)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall initiate a new rulemaking proceeding to continue to consider such procedural changes to its rules as may be in the public interest to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (c) Nonpublic collaborative discussions (1) In general Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, United States Code, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners may hold a meeting that is closed to the public to discuss official business if— (A) a vote or any other agency action is not taken at such meeting; (B) each person present at such meeting is a Commissioner, an employee of the Commission, a member of a joint board or conference established under section 410, or a person on the staff of such a joint board or conference or of a member of such a joint board or conference; and (C) an attorney from the Office of General Counsel of the Commission is present at such meeting. (2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions Not later than 2 business days after the conclusion of a meeting held under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish a disclosure of such meeting, including— (A) a list of the persons who attended such meeting; and (B) a summary of the matters discussed at such meeting, except for such matters as the Commission determines may be withheld under section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency action Nothing in this subsection shall limit the applicability of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, with respect to a meeting of Commissioners other than that described in paragraph (1). (d) Access to certain information on Commission’s website The Commission shall provide direct access from the homepage of its website to— (1) detailed information regarding— (A) the budget of the Commission for the current fiscal year; (B) the appropriations for the Commission for such fiscal year; and (C) the total number of full-time equivalent employees of the Commission; and (2) the performance plan most recently made available by the Commission under section 1115(b) of title 31, United States Code. (e) Federal Register publication (1) In general In the case of any document adopted by the Commission that the Commission is required, under any provision of law, to publish in the Federal Register, the Commission shall, not later than the date described in paragraph (2), complete all Commission actions necessary for such document to be so published. (2) Date described The date described in this paragraph is the earlier of— (A) the day that is 45 days after the date of the release of the document; or (B) the day by which such actions must be completed to comply with any deadline under any other provision of law. (3) No effect on deadlines for publication in other form In the case of a deadline that does not specify that the form of publication is publication in the Federal Register, the Commission may comply with such deadline by publishing the document in another form. Such other form of publication does not relieve the Commission of any Federal Register publication requirement applicable to such document, including the requirement of paragraph (1). (f) Consumer complaint database (1) In general In evaluating and processing consumer complaints, the Commission shall present information about such complaints in a publicly available, searchable database on its website that— (A) facilitates easy use by consumers; and (B) to the extent practicable, is sortable and accessible by— (i) the date of the filing of the complaint; (ii) the topic of the complaint; (iii) the party complained of; and (iv) other elements that the Commission considers in the public interest. (2) Duplicative complaints In the case of multiple complaints arising from the same alleged misconduct, the Commission shall be required to include only information concerning one such complaint in the database described in paragraph (1). (g) Form of publication (1) In general In complying with a requirement of this section to publish a document, the Commission shall publish such document on its website, in addition to publishing such document in any other form that the Commission is required to use or is permitted to and chooses to use. (2) Exception The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for redacting documents required to be published by this section so that the published versions of such documents do not contain— (A) information the publication of which would be detrimental to national security, homeland security, law enforcement, or public safety; or (B) information that is proprietary or confidential. (h) Transparency relating to performance in meeting FOIA requirements The Commission shall take additional steps to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting the disclosure and other requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), including by doing the following: (1) Publishing on the Commission’s website the Commission’s logs for tracking, responding to, and managing requests submitted under such section, including the Commission’s fee estimates, fee categories, and fee request determinations. (2) Releasing to the public all decisions made by the Commission (including decisions made by the Commission’s Bureaus and Offices) granting or denying requests filed under such section, including any such decisions pertaining to the estimate and application of fees assessed under such section. (3) Publishing on the Commission’s website electronic copies of documents released under such section. (4) Presenting information about the Commission’s handling of requests under such section in the Commission’s annual budget estimates submitted to Congress and the Commission’s annual performance and financial reports. Such information shall include the number of requests under such section the Commission received in the most recent fiscal year, the number of such requests granted and denied, a comparison of the Commission’s processing of such requests over at least the previous 3 fiscal years, and a comparison of the Commission’s results with the most recent average for the United States Government as published on www.foia.gov. (i) Prompt release of statistical reports and reports to Congress Not later than January 15th of each year, the Commission shall identify, catalog, and publish an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress that are regularly or intermittently released by the Commission and will be released during such year. (j) Annual scorecard reports (1) In general For the 1-year period beginning on January 1st of each year, the Commission shall prepare a report on the performance of the Commission in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines established under subsection (a)(2)(E) and the guidelines established under subsection (a)(2)(F). (2) Contents Each report required by paragraph (1) shall contain detailed statistics on such performance, including, with respect to each Bureau of the Commission— (A) with respect to each type of filing specified in subsection (a)(2)(E) or (a)(2)(F)— (i) the number of filings that were pending on the last day of the period covered by such report; (ii) the number of filings described in clause (i) for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was not met and the average length of time such filings have been pending; and (iii) for filings that were resolved during such period, the average time between initiation and resolution and the percentage for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was met; (B) with respect to proceedings before an administrative law judge— (i) the number of such proceedings completed during such period; and (ii) the number of such proceedings pending on the last day of such period; and (C) the number of independent studies or analyses published by the Commission during such period. (3) Publication and submission The Commission shall publish and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate each report required by paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 30 days after the last day of the period covered by such report. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) Amendment The term amendment includes, when used with respect to an existing rule, the deletion of such rule. (2) Bipartisan majority The term bipartisan majority means, when used with respect to a group of Commissioners, that such group— (A) is a group of 3 or more Commissioners; and (B) includes, for each political party of which any Commissioner is a member, at least 1 Commissioner who is a member of such political party, and, if any Commissioner has no political party affiliation, at least one unaffiliated Commissioner. (3) Performance measure The term performance measure means an objective and quantifiable outcome measure or output measure (as such terms are defined in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code). (4) Program activity The term program activity has the meaning given such term in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, except that such term also includes any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the Commission of an amount that is greater than or equal to $100,000,000. (5) Other definitions The terms agency action , ex parte communication , and rule have the meanings given such terms in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. . (b) Effective dates and implementing rules (1) Effective dates (A) Nonpublic collaborative discussions Subsection (c) of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply beginning on the first date on which all of the procedural changes to the rules of the Federal Communications Commission required by subsection (a)(1) of such section have taken effect. (B) Schedules and reports Subsections (i) and (j) of such section 13 shall apply with respect to 2014 and any year thereafter. (2) Rules Except as otherwise provided in such section 13, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate any rules necessary to carry out such section not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Categorization of TCPA inquiries and complaints in quarterly report In compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, the Federal Communications Commission may not categorize an inquiry or complaint with respect to section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 227 ) as being a wireline inquiry or complaint or a wireless inquiry or complaint unless the party whose conduct is the subject of the inquiry or complaint is a wireline carrier or a wireless carrier, respectively. 4. Effect on other laws Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall relieve the Federal Communications Commission from any obligations under title 5, United States Code, except where otherwise expressly provided. 5. Application of Antideficiency Act to Universal Service Program (a) In general Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (m) Application of Antideficiency Act Section 1341 and subchapter II of chapter 15 of title 31, United States Code, do not apply— (1) to any amount collected or received as Federal universal service contributions required by this section, including any interest earned on such contributions; or (2) to the expenditure or obligation of amounts attributable to such contributions for universal service support programs established pursuant to this section. . (b) Repeal of temporary provision Title III of Public Law 108–494 (118 Stat. 3997) is repealed.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes. .

January 31, 2014 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3675 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2014 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 . 2. FCC process reform (a) In general Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 13. Transparency and efficiency (a) Initial rulemaking and inquiry (1) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 , the Commission shall complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt procedural changes to its rules to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (2) Requirements for rulemaking The rules adopted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) set minimum comment periods for comment and reply comment, subject to a determination by the Commission that good cause exists for departing from such minimum comment periods, for— (i) significant regulatory actions, as defined in Executive Order No. 12866; and (ii) all other rulemaking proceedings; (B) establish policies concerning the submission of extensive new comments, data, or reports towards the end of the comment period; (C) establish policies regarding treatment of comments, ex parte communications, and data or reports (including statistical reports and reports to Congress) submitted after the comment period to ensure that the public has adequate notice of and opportunity to respond to such submissions before the Commission relies on such submissions in any order, decision, report, or action; (D) establish procedures for publishing the status of open rulemaking proceedings and proposed orders, decisions, reports, or actions on circulation for review by the Commissioners, including which Commissioners have not cast a vote on an order, decision, report, or action that has been on circulation for more than 60 days; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for— (i) in the case of a petition for a declaratory ruling under section 1.2 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, issuing a public notice of such petition; (ii) in the case of a petition for rulemaking under section 1.401 of such title, issuing a public notice of such petition; and (iii) in the case of a petition for reconsideration under section 1.106 or 1.429 of such title or an application for review under section 1.115 of such title, issuing a public notice of a decision on the petition or application by the Commission or under delegated authority (as the case may be); (F) establish guidelines (relative to the date of filing) for the disposition of petitions filed under section 1.2 of such title; (G) establish procedures for the inclusion of the specific language of the proposed rule or the proposed amendment of an existing rule in a notice of proposed rulemaking; and (H) require notices of proposed rulemaking and orders adopting a rule or amending an existing rule that— (i) create (or propose to create) a program activity to contain performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity; and (ii) substantially change (or propose to substantially change) a program activity to contain— (I) performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed); or (II) a finding that existing performance measures will effectively evaluate the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed). (3) Inquiry Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 , the Commission shall complete an inquiry to seek public comment on whether and how the Commission should— (A) establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place an order, decision, report, or action on the agenda of an open meeting; (B) establish procedures for informing all Commissioners of a reasonable number of options available to the Commission for resolving a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding; (C) establish procedures for ensuring that all Commissioners have adequate time, prior to being required to decide a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding (including at a meeting held pursuant to section 5(d)), to review the proposed Commission decision document, including the specific language of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment of an existing rule; (D) establish procedures for publishing the text of agenda items to be voted on at an open meeting in advance of such meeting so that the public has the opportunity to read the text before a vote is taken; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for disposition of applications for a license under section 1.913 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations; (F) assign resources needed in order to meet the deadlines described in subparagraph (E), including whether the Commission’s ability to meet such deadlines would be enhanced by assessing a fee from applicants for such a license; and (G) publish each order, decision, report, or action not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of such order, decision, report, or action. (4) Data for performance measures The Commission shall develop a performance measure or proposed performance measure required by this subsection to rely, where possible, on data already collected by the Commission. (b) Periodic review On the date that is 5 years after the completion of the rulemaking proceeding under subsection (a)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall initiate a new rulemaking proceeding to continue to consider such procedural changes to its rules as may be in the public interest to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (c) Nonpublic collaborative discussions (1) In general Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, United States Code, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners may hold a meeting that is closed to the public to discuss official business if— (A) a vote or any other agency action is not taken at such meeting; (B) each person present at such meeting is a Commissioner, an employee of the Commission, a member of a joint board or conference established under section 410, or a person on the staff of such a joint board or conference or of a member of such a joint board or conference; and (C) an attorney from the Office of General Counsel of the Commission is present at such meeting. (2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions Not later than 2 business days after the conclusion of a meeting held under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish a disclosure of such meeting, including— (A) a list of the persons who attended such meeting; and (B) a summary of the matters discussed at such meeting, except for such matters as the Commission determines may be withheld under section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency action Nothing in this subsection shall limit the applicability of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, with respect to a meeting of Commissioners other than that described in paragraph (1). (d) Access to certain information on Commission’s website The Commission shall provide direct access from the homepage of its website to— (1) detailed information regarding— (A) the budget of the Commission for the current fiscal year; (B) the appropriations for the Commission for such fiscal year; and (C) the total number of full-time equivalent employees of the Commission; and (2) the performance plan most recently made available by the Commission under section 1115(b) of title 31, United States Code. (e) Federal Register publication (1) In general In the case of any document adopted by the Commission that the Commission is required, under any provision of law, to publish in the Federal Register, the Commission shall, not later than the date described in paragraph (2), complete all Commission actions necessary for such document to be so published. (2) Date described The date described in this paragraph is the earlier of— (A) the day that is 45 days after the date of the release of the document; or (B) the day by which such actions must be completed to comply with any deadline under any other provision of law. (3) No effect on deadlines for publication in other form In the case of a deadline that does not specify that the form of publication is publication in the Federal Register, the Commission may comply with such deadline by publishing the document in another form. Such other form of publication does not relieve the Commission of any Federal Register publication requirement applicable to such document, including the requirement of paragraph (1). (f) Consumer complaint database (1) In general In evaluating and processing consumer complaints, the Commission shall present information about such complaints in a publicly available, searchable database on its website that— (A) facilitates easy use by consumers; and (B) to the extent practicable, is sortable and accessible by— (i) the date of the filing of the complaint; (ii) the topic of the complaint; (iii) the party complained of; and (iv) other elements that the Commission considers in the public interest. (2) Duplicative complaints In the case of multiple complaints arising from the same alleged misconduct, the Commission shall be required to include only information concerning one such complaint in the database described in paragraph (1). (g) Form of publication (1) In general In complying with a requirement of this section to publish a document, the Commission shall publish such document on its website, in addition to publishing such document in any other form that the Commission is required to use or is permitted to and chooses to use. (2) Exception The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for redacting documents required to be published by this section so that the published versions of such documents do not contain— (A) information the publication of which would be detrimental to national security, homeland security, law enforcement, or public safety; or (B) information that is proprietary or confidential. (h) Transparency relating to performance in meeting FOIA requirements The Commission shall take additional steps to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting the disclosure and other requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), including by doing the following: (1) Publishing on the Commission’s website the Commission’s logs for tracking, responding to, and managing requests submitted under such section, including the Commission’s fee estimates, fee categories, and fee request determinations. (2) Releasing to the public all decisions made by the Commission (including decisions made by the Commission’s Bureaus and Offices) granting or denying requests filed under such section, including any such decisions pertaining to the estimate and application of fees assessed under such section. (3) Publishing on the Commission’s website electronic copies of documents released under such section. (4) Presenting information about the Commission’s handling of requests under such section in the Commission’s annual budget estimates submitted to Congress and the Commission’s annual performance and financial reports. Such information shall include the number of requests under such section the Commission received in the most recent fiscal year, the number of such requests granted and denied, a comparison of the Commission’s processing of such requests over at least the previous 3 fiscal years, and a comparison of the Commission’s results with the most recent average for the United States Government as published on www.foia.gov. (i) Prompt release of statistical reports and reports to Congress Not later than January 15th of each year, the Commission shall identify, catalog, and publish an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress that are regularly or intermittently released by the Commission and will be released during such year. (j) Annual scorecard reports (1) In general For the 1-year period beginning on January 1st of each year, the Commission shall prepare a report on the performance of the Commission in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines established under subsection (a)(2)(E) and the guidelines established under subsection (a)(2)(F). (2) Contents Each report required by paragraph (1) shall contain detailed statistics on such performance, including, with respect to each Bureau of the Commission— (A) with respect to each type of filing specified in subsection (a)(2)(E) or (a)(2)(F)— (i) the number of filings that were pending on the last day of the period covered by such report; (ii) the number of filings described in clause (i) for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was not met and the average length of time such filings have been pending; and (iii) for filings that were resolved during such period, the average time between initiation and resolution and the percentage for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was met; (B) with respect to proceedings before an administrative law judge— (i) the number of such proceedings completed during such period; and (ii) the number of such proceedings pending on the last day of such period; and (C) the number of independent studies or analyses published by the Commission during such period. (3) Publication and submission The Commission shall publish and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate each report required by paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 30 days after the last day of the period covered by such report. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) Amendment The term amendment includes, when used with respect to an existing rule, the deletion of such rule. (2) Bipartisan majority The term bipartisan majority means, when used with respect to a group of Commissioners, that such group— (A) is a group of 3 or more Commissioners; and (B) includes, for each political party of which any Commissioner is a member, at least 1 Commissioner who is a member of such political party, and, if any Commissioner has no political party affiliation, at least one unaffiliated Commissioner. (3) Performance measure The term performance measure means an objective and quantifiable outcome measure or output measure (as such terms are defined in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code). (4) Program activity The term program activity has the meaning given such term in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, except that such term also includes any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the Commission of an amount that is greater than or equal to $100,000,000. (5) Other definitions The terms agency action , ex parte communication , and rule have the meanings given such terms in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. . (b) Effective dates and implementing rules (1) Effective dates (A) Nonpublic collaborative discussions Subsection (c) of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply beginning on the first date on which all of the procedural changes to the rules of the Federal Communications Commission required by subsection (a)(1) of such section have taken effect. (B) Schedules and reports Subsections (i) and (j) of such section 13 shall apply with respect to 2014 and any year thereafter. (2) Rules Except as otherwise provided in such section 13, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate any rules necessary to carry out such section not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Categorization of TCPA inquiries and complaints in quarterly report In compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, the Federal Communications Commission may not categorize an inquiry or complaint with respect to section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 227 ) as being a wireline inquiry or complaint or a wireless inquiry or complaint unless the party whose conduct is the subject of the inquiry or complaint is a wireline carrier or a wireless carrier, respectively. 4. Effect on other laws Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall relieve the Federal Communications Commission from any obligations under title 5, United States Code, except where otherwise expressly provided. 5. Application of Antideficiency Act to Universal Service Program Section 302 of Public Law 108–494 (118 Stat. 3998) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 each place it appears and inserting December 31, 2020 .

Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3675 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 . 2. FCC process reform (a) In general Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 13. Transparency and efficiency (a) Initial rulemaking and inquiry (1) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 , the Commission shall complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt procedural changes to its rules to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (2) Requirements for rulemaking The rules adopted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) set minimum comment periods for comment and reply comment, subject to a determination by the Commission that good cause exists for departing from such minimum comment periods, for— (i) significant regulatory actions, as defined in Executive Order No. 12866; and (ii) all other rulemaking proceedings; (B) establish policies concerning the submission of extensive new comments, data, or reports towards the end of the comment period; (C) establish policies regarding treatment of comments, ex parte communications, and data or reports (including statistical reports and reports to Congress) submitted after the comment period to ensure that the public has adequate notice of and opportunity to respond to such submissions before the Commission relies on such submissions in any order, decision, report, or action; (D) establish procedures for publishing the status of open rulemaking proceedings and proposed orders, decisions, reports, or actions on circulation for review by the Commissioners, including which Commissioners have not cast a vote on an order, decision, report, or action that has been on circulation for more than 60 days; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for— (i) in the case of a petition for a declaratory ruling under section 1.2 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, issuing a public notice of such petition; (ii) in the case of a petition for rulemaking under section 1.401 of such title, issuing a public notice of such petition; and (iii) in the case of a petition for reconsideration under section 1.106 or 1.429 of such title or an application for review under section 1.115 of such title, issuing a public notice of a decision on the petition or application by the Commission or under delegated authority (as the case may be); (F) establish guidelines (relative to the date of filing) for the disposition of petitions filed under section 1.2 of such title; (G) establish procedures for the inclusion of the specific language of the proposed rule or the proposed amendment of an existing rule in a notice of proposed rulemaking; and (H) require notices of proposed rulemaking and orders adopting a rule or amending an existing rule that— (i) create (or propose to create) a program activity to contain performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity; and (ii) substantially change (or propose to substantially change) a program activity to contain— (I) performance measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed); or (II) a finding that existing performance measures will effectively evaluate the program activity as changed (or proposed to be changed). (3) Inquiry Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2014 , the Commission shall complete an inquiry to seek public comment on whether and how the Commission should— (A) establish procedures for allowing a bipartisan majority of Commissioners to place an order, decision, report, or action on the agenda of an open meeting; (B) establish procedures for informing all Commissioners of a reasonable number of options available to the Commission for resolving a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding; (C) establish procedures for ensuring that all Commissioners have adequate time, prior to being required to decide a petition, complaint, application, rulemaking, or other proceeding (including at a meeting held pursuant to section 5(d)), to review the proposed Commission decision document, including the specific language of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment of an existing rule; (D) establish procedures for publishing the text of agenda items to be voted on at an open meeting in advance of such meeting so that the public has the opportunity to read the text before a vote is taken; (E) establish deadlines (relative to the date of filing) for disposition of applications for a license under section 1.913 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations; (F) assign resources needed in order to meet the deadlines described in subparagraph (E), including whether the Commission’s ability to meet such deadlines would be enhanced by assessing a fee from applicants for such a license; and (G) publish each order, decision, report, or action not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of such order, decision, report, or action. (4) Data for performance measures The Commission shall develop a performance measure or proposed performance measure required by this subsection to rely, where possible, on data already collected by the Commission. (b) Periodic review On the date that is 5 years after the completion of the rulemaking proceeding under subsection (a)(1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall initiate a new rulemaking proceeding to continue to consider such procedural changes to its rules as may be in the public interest to maximize opportunities for public participation and efficient decisionmaking. (c) Nonpublic collaborative discussions (1) In general Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, United States Code, a bipartisan majority of Commissioners may hold a meeting that is closed to the public to discuss official business if— (A) a vote or any other agency action is not taken at such meeting; (B) each person present at such meeting is a Commissioner, an employee of the Commission, a member of a joint board or conference established under section 410, or a person on the staff of such a joint board or conference or of a member of such a joint board or conference; and (C) an attorney from the Office of General Counsel of the Commission is present at such meeting. (2) Disclosure of nonpublic collaborative discussions Not later than 2 business days after the conclusion of a meeting held under paragraph (1), the Commission shall publish a disclosure of such meeting, including— (A) a list of the persons who attended such meeting; and (B) a summary of the matters discussed at such meeting, except for such matters as the Commission determines may be withheld under section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Preservation of open meetings requirements for agency action Nothing in this subsection shall limit the applicability of section 552b of title 5, United States Code, with respect to a meeting of Commissioners other than that described in paragraph (1). (d) Access to certain information on Commission’s website The Commission shall provide direct access from the homepage of its website to— (1) detailed information regarding— (A) the budget of the Commission for the current fiscal year; (B) the appropriations for the Commission for such fiscal year; and (C) the total number of full-time equivalent employees of the Commission; and (2) the performance plan most recently made available by the Commission under section 1115(b) of title 31, United States Code. (e) Federal Register publication (1) In general In the case of any document adopted by the Commission that the Commission is required, under any provision of law, to publish in the Federal Register, the Commission shall, not later than the date described in paragraph (2), complete all Commission actions necessary for such document to be so published. (2) Date described The date described in this paragraph is the earlier of— (A) the day that is 45 days after the date of the release of the document; or (B) the day by which such actions must be completed to comply with any deadline under any other provision of law. (3) No effect on deadlines for publication in other form In the case of a deadline that does not specify that the form of publication is publication in the Federal Register, the Commission may comply with such deadline by publishing the document in another form. Such other form of publication does not relieve the Commission of any Federal Register publication requirement applicable to such document, including the requirement of paragraph (1). (f) Consumer complaint database (1) In general In evaluating and processing consumer complaints, the Commission shall present information about such complaints in a publicly available, searchable database on its website that— (A) facilitates easy use by consumers; and (B) to the extent practicable, is sortable and accessible by— (i) the date of the filing of the complaint; (ii) the topic of the complaint; (iii) the party complained of; and (iv) other elements that the Commission considers in the public interest. (2) Duplicative complaints In the case of multiple complaints arising from the same alleged misconduct, the Commission shall be required to include only information concerning one such complaint in the database described in paragraph (1). (g) Form of publication (1) In general In complying with a requirement of this section to publish a document, the Commission shall publish such document on its website, in addition to publishing such document in any other form that the Commission is required to use or is permitted to and chooses to use. (2) Exception The Commission shall by rule establish procedures for redacting documents required to be published by this section so that the published versions of such documents do not contain— (A) information the publication of which would be detrimental to national security, homeland security, law enforcement, or public safety; or (B) information that is proprietary or confidential. (h) Transparency relating to performance in meeting FOIA requirements The Commission shall take additional steps to inform the public about its performance and efficiency in meeting the disclosure and other requirements of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), including by doing the following: (1) Publishing on the Commission’s website the Commission’s logs for tracking, responding to, and managing requests submitted under such section, including the Commission’s fee estimates, fee categories, and fee request determinations. (2) Releasing to the public all decisions made by the Commission (including decisions made by the Commission’s Bureaus and Offices) granting or denying requests filed under such section, including any such decisions pertaining to the estimate and application of fees assessed under such section. (3) Publishing on the Commission’s website electronic copies of documents released under such section. (4) Presenting information about the Commission’s handling of requests under such section in the Commission’s annual budget estimates submitted to Congress and the Commission’s annual performance and financial reports. Such information shall include the number of requests under such section the Commission received in the most recent fiscal year, the number of such requests granted and denied, a comparison of the Commission’s processing of such requests over at least the previous 3 fiscal years, and a comparison of the Commission’s results with the most recent average for the United States Government as published on www.foia.gov. (i) Prompt release of statistical reports and reports to Congress Not later than January 15th of each year, the Commission shall identify, catalog, and publish an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress that are regularly or intermittently released by the Commission and will be released during such year. (j) Annual scorecard reports (1) In general For the 1-year period beginning on January 1st of each year, the Commission shall prepare a report on the performance of the Commission in conducting its proceedings and meeting the deadlines established under subsection (a)(2)(E) and the guidelines established under subsection (a)(2)(F). (2) Contents Each report required by paragraph (1) shall contain detailed statistics on such performance, including, with respect to each Bureau of the Commission— (A) with respect to each type of filing specified in subsection (a)(2)(E) or (a)(2)(F)— (i) the number of filings that were pending on the last day of the period covered by such report; (ii) the number of filings described in clause (i) for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was not met and the average length of time such filings have been pending; and (iii) for filings that were resolved during such period, the average time between initiation and resolution and the percentage for which each applicable deadline or guideline established under such subsection was met; (B) with respect to proceedings before an administrative law judge— (i) the number of such proceedings completed during such period; and (ii) the number of such proceedings pending on the last day of such period; and (C) the number of independent studies or analyses published by the Commission during such period. (3) Publication and submission The Commission shall publish and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate each report required by paragraph (1) not later than the date that is 30 days after the last day of the period covered by such report. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) Amendment The term amendment includes, when used with respect to an existing rule, the deletion of such rule. (2) Bipartisan majority The term bipartisan majority means, when used with respect to a group of Commissioners, that such group— (A) is a group of 3 or more Commissioners; and (B) includes, for each political party of which any Commissioner is a member, at least 1 Commissioner who is a member of such political party, and, if any Commissioner has no political party affiliation, at least one unaffiliated Commissioner. (3) Performance measure The term performance measure means an objective and quantifiable outcome measure or output measure (as such terms are defined in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code). (4) Program activity The term program activity has the meaning given such term in section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, except that such term also includes any annual collection or distribution or related series of collections or distributions by the Commission of an amount that is greater than or equal to $100,000,000. (5) Other definitions The terms agency action , ex parte communication , and rule have the meanings given such terms in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. . (b) Effective dates and implementing rules (1) Effective dates (A) Nonpublic collaborative discussions Subsection (c) of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by subsection (a), shall apply beginning on the first date on which all of the procedural changes to the rules of the Federal Communications Commission required by subsection (a)(1) of such section have taken effect. (B) Schedules and reports Subsections (i) and (j) of such section 13 shall apply with respect to 2014 and any year thereafter. (2) Rules Except as otherwise provided in such section 13, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate any rules necessary to carry out such section not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Categorization of TCPA inquiries and complaints in quarterly report In compiling its quarterly report with respect to informal consumer inquiries and complaints, the Federal Communications Commission may not categorize an inquiry or complaint with respect to section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 227 ) as being a wireline inquiry or complaint or a wireless inquiry or complaint unless the party whose conduct is the subject of the inquiry or complaint is a wireline carrier or a wireless carrier, respectively. 4. Effect on other laws Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall relieve the Federal Communications Commission from any obligations under title 5, United States Code, except where otherwise expressly provided. 5. Application of Antideficiency Act to Universal Service Program Section 302 of Public Law 108–494 (118 Stat. 3998) is amended by striking December 31, 2015 each place it appears and inserting December 31, 2020 .

Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.