Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/12/E7-4329/testimony-by-bbg-employees-production-of-official-records-and-disclosure-of-official-information-in
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 23:27:29
Document Index: 623156383

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 504', 'art 504', 'art 504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504', '§\u2009504']

Federal Register :: Testimony by BBG Employees, Production of Official Records, and Disclosure of Official Information in Legal Proceedings
Testimony by BBG Employees, Production of Official Records, and Disclosure of Official Information in Legal Proceedings
A Proposed Rule by the Broadcasting Board of Governors on 03/12/2007
Comments must be received on or before April 11, 2007.
72 FR 10954
10954-10958 (5 pages)
22 CFR 504
E7-4329
List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 504
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E7-4329 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E7-4329
Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Proposed Rule; Comment Request.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) seeks public comment on a proposed rule that would govern access to BBG information and records in connection with legal proceedings in which neither the United States nor the BBG is a party. The rule would establish guidelines for use in determining whether BBG employees will be permitted to testify or to provide records relating to their official duties. The rule would also establish procedures that requesters would have to follow when making demands on or requests to a BBG employee for official documents or to provide testimony. The proposed rule will promote uniformity in decisions, conserve the ability of BBG to conduct official business, preserve its employee resources, protect confidential information, provide guidance to requestors, minimize involvement in matters unrelated to its mission and programs, avoid wasteful allocation of agency resources, and avoid spending public time and money for private purposes.
Send or deliver comments to the Office of the General Counsel, Broadcasting Board of Governors, 330 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20237 by mail or fax at (202) 203-4585.
Christopher Veith, Assistant General Counsel, Broadcasting Board of Governors, 330 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20237, phone: (202) 203-4550 or fax at (202) 203-4585.
The BBG occasionally receives subpoenas and other informal requests for documents and requests for BBG employees to provide testimony or evidence in cases in which the BBG is not a party. Usually these subpoenas or requests are for BBG records that are not available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. The BBG may also receive a request for an Start Printed Page 10955employee to provide testimony relating to materials contained in BBG's official records or to provide testimony or information acquired by a BBG employee during the performance of the employee's official duties.
Although the BBG has rules governing requests for information from the general public, the BBG currently has no regulations governing subpoenas and other informal requests for document production and testimony of BBG employees in legal proceedings. An increase in such requests in recent years warrants adoption of regulations governing their submission, evaluation, and processing. Responding to these requests and subpoenas is not only burdensome, may result in a significant disruption of a BBG employee's work schedule and possibly involve the BBG in issues unrelated to its responsibilities. In order to resolve these problems, many agencies have issued regulations, similar to the proposed regulation, governing the circumstances and manner in which an employee may respond to demands for testimony or for the production of documents. Establishing uniform procedures for legal processes will ensure timely notice and promote centralized decision-making. The United States Supreme Court upheld this type of regulation in United States ex rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951).
Briefly summarized, the proposed rule will prohibit disclosure of nonpublic official records or testimony by the BBG's employees, as defined in part 504.4, unless there is compliance with the rule. The proposed rule sets out the information that requesters must provide and the factors that the BBG will consider in making determinations in response to requests for testimony or the production of documents.
The charges for witnesses are the same as those provided in Federal courts and the fees related to production of records are the same as those charged under FOIA. The charges for time spent by an employee to prepare for testimony and for searches, copying, and certification of records by the BBG are authorized under 31 U.S.C. 9701, which permits an agency to charge for services or things of value that are provided by the agency.
This rule applies to a range of matters in any legal proceeding in which the BBG is not a named party and applies to current and former BBG employees. Both current and former BBG employees are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 1905 from testifying about specific matters involving information for which they had responsibility during their active employment unless permitted to testify as provided in the rule. They would not be prohibited from testifying about general matters unconnected with the specific BBG matters for which they had responsibility.
This rule will ensure a more efficient use of the BBG's resources, minimize the possibility of involving the BBG in issues unrelated to its responsibilities, promote uniformity in responding to such subpoenas and like requests, and maintain the impartiality of the BBG in matters that are in dispute between other parties. It will also serve the BBG's interest in protecting sensitive, confidential, and privileged information and records that are generated in fulfillment of the BBG's statutory responsibilities.
This rule is internal and procedural rather than substantive. It does not create a right to obtain official records or the official testimony of a BBG employee nor does it create any additional right or privilege not already available to the BBG to deny any demand or request for testimony or documents. Failure to comply with the procedures set out in these regulations would be a basis for denying a demand or request submitted to the BBG.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Broadcasting Board of Governors proposes to amend 22 CFR, Chapter V, by adding part 504, to read as follows:
Factors the BBG will consider.
Filing requirements for litigants seeking documents or testimony.
Service of requests or demands.
Processing requests or demands.
Restrictions that apply to testimony.
Restrictions that apply to released records.
Procedure when a decision is not made prior to the time a response is required.
Procedure in the event of an adverse ruling.
§ 504.2
(c) Requests for the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act, Start Printed Page 109565 U.S.C. 552, or the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a; or
§ 504. 3
§ 504.4
§ 504.5
(k) Whether the request was served before the demand;
§ 504. 6
(5) A statement indicating that the information sought is not available from another source, from other persons or entities, or from the testimony of someone other than a BBG employee, such as a retained expert;
(7) A description of all prior decisions, orders, or pending motions in Start Printed Page 10957the case that bear upon the relevance of the requested records or testimony;
§ 504.7
§ 504.8
§ 504.9
The General Counsel makes the final determination on demands or requests to employees for production of official records and information or testimony in litigation in which the BBG is not a party. All final determinations are within the sole discretion of the General Counsel. The General Counsel will notify the requester and, when appropriate, the court or other competent authority of the final determination, the reasons for the grant or denial of the request, and any conditions that the General Counsel may impose on the release of records or information, or on the testimony of a BBG employee. The General Counsel's decision exhausts administrative remedies for discovery of the information.
§ 504.10
§ 504.11
§ 504.12
If a response to a demand or request is required before the General Counsel can make the determination referred to in Sec. 504.9, the General Counsel, when necessary, will provide the court or other competent authority with a copy of this part, inform the court or other competent authority that the request is being reviewed, provide an estimate as to when a decision will be made, and seek a stay of the demand or request pending a final determination.
§ 504. 13
§ 504.14
(a) Generally. The General Counsel may condition the production of records or appearance for testimony upon Start Printed Page 10958advance payment of a reasonable estimate of the costs to the BBG.
§ 504.15
Carol F. Baker,
[FR Doc. E7-4329 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]