Opinion ID: 603765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Dismissal of Vitelco's Petition for Reconsideration

Text: 20 Because of the Commission's dismissal of Vitelco's petition for reconsideration, [300 U.S.App.D.C. 365] a number of the arguments briefed before this court were not presented to the FCC. Yet, it is fundamental that issues must be raised before the Commission as a prerequisite to our review. See47 U.S.C. § 405; Action for Children's Television v. FCC, 906 F.2d 752, 755 (D.C.Cir.1990). Thus, unless the Commission unlawfully dismissed Vitelco's petition for reconsideration, the arguments that Vitelco failed to raise below are procedurally barred. 21 Section 405 of the Communications Act provides that petitions for reconsideration must be filed within thirty days of the date on which the FCC action complained of takes place. 47 U.S.C. § 405(a). Here, Vitelco indisputably missed its filing deadline. The refund order was issued on December 16, 1991, and Vitelco's petition for reconsideration was not filed until January 16, 1992--31 days later. Although section 405 does not absolutely prohibit FCC consideration of untimely petitions for reconsideration, we have discouraged the Commission from accepting such petitions in the absence of extremely unusual circumstances. See Reuters, Ltd. v. FCC, 781 F.2d 946, 951-52 (D.C.Cir.1986). In this case, extenuating circumstances did not prohibit Vitelco from filing within the prescribed time limits. Vitelco's counsel freely admits that its tardiness was caused by miscommunications within the firm. Therefore, the Commission's refusal to entertain Vitelco's petition for reconsideration was justified. 22 Nonetheless, the foreclosed issues are not those that are central to the disposition of this case. Vitelco's fundamental complaint on appeal is that the FCC's decision to evaluate the reasonableness of the company's interim rates over a six-month period was arbitrary and capricious. This issue was raised repeatedly before the Commission throughout the administrative proceedings. See, e.g., Further Direct Case at 2-3 (use of six-month monitoring period inconsistent with Commission precedent); Rebuttal of Vitelco, Docket No. 90-124 (June 28, 1990) at 5 (Commission should not use an abbreviated review period for interim rates), reprinted in J.A. at 90; Direct Case at 11-12 (monitoring period for the interim rates should be April 1, 1989 to July 1, 1990); Supplemental Direct Case at 3 (conclusions concerning the interim rates cannot be reached until the appropriate monitoring period is determined). Thus, when the Commission finally disposed of the case, it did pass on the issues that are the focus of this dispute. See Refund Order, 6 FCC Rcd at 7351 (holding six-month review period appropriate and rejecting Vitelco's good faith forecasting argument). We have no difficulty in concluding, therefore, that the matters upon which our decision hinges were adequately raised before the Commission and are properly cognizable by this court.