Opinion ID: 391779
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Need for Expedition

Text: 97 Ever since the decision in Domsat II the FCC has designed its procedures to minimize delay in developing the domestic satellite communications industry. This court has specifically approved that approach. Network Project v. FCC, supra, 511 F.2d at 797 n.13. In this dynamic and technologically innovative industry, a proposed venture may become obsolete in just a few years. Even without regulatory delay, a satellite firm is faced with the daunting prospect of time-consuming research and construction, which entail advance planning and risky lead time and which may lead to naught. To delay a proposed project six months will increase capital cost and diminish technological advantage; to delay it a year or more may destroy its attractiveness as an investment. Unless this proceeding is further delayed, an SBS satellite will be operating in early 1981. If it is remanded for trial-type hearings, the SBS launching will be much delayed, if not precluded altogether. 108 We recognize that the need for expedition will not justify an agency's failure to carry out its statutory responsibilities, 109 but the relative urgency of a decision is a thoroughly appropriate factor for an agency to consider when crafting its procedures. 98 Under the circumstances of this proceeding, we cannot find the FCC's decision not to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the antitrust issues to be arbitrary or capricious; indeed, we recognize that an evidentiary hearing would less promote reasoned decisionmaking in this case than it would delay and impede technological progress.