§204 — Title 47 Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs | U.S. Code

Summary

The Commission can hold a hearing on any new or changed charge, rule, or practice when someone files it or on its own. It can suspend that change while the hearing goes on by giving the carrier a written reason. The suspension can last up to five months beyond when the change would have started. If no order is made during that suspension, the change goes into effect at the end. For new services or revised charges, the Commission can require carriers to keep clear records of money collected, showing who paid. After the hearing, the Commission can order refunds with interest for amounts it finds were not justified. The carrier must prove the new or changed charge is fair. The Commission must give these cases priority and decide them quickly. The Commission must issue a final order closing the hearing within five months after the charge becomes effective, except hearings started before November 3, 1988 must be finished no later than 12 months after November 3, 1988. A final order can be appealed under the law. Local exchange carriers can use a fast process: rate cuts take effect 7 days after filing and rate increases 15 days after filing unless the Commission acts first. The Commission may also allow part or all of a charge to take effect temporarily or partially if the carrier shows in writing it is fair and allows written comments. Temporary approvals can include the same record-keeping and refund rules.

Title 47, §204

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Whenever there is filed with the Commission any new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice, the Commission may either upon complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, upon reasonable notice, enter upon a hearing concerning the lawfulness thereof; and pending such hearing and the decision thereon the Commission, upon delivering to the carrier or carriers affected thereby a statement in writing of its reasons for such suspension, may suspend the operation of such charge, classification, regulation, or practice, in whole or in part but not for a longer period than five months beyond the time when it would otherwise go into effect; and after full hearing the Commission may make such order with reference thereto as would be proper in a proceeding initiated after such charge, classification, regulation, or practice had become effective. If the proceeding has not been concluded and an order made within the period of the suspension, the proposed new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice shall go into effect at the end of such period; but in case of a proposed charge for a new service or a revised charge, the Commission may by order require the interested carrier or carriers to keep accurate account of all amounts received by reason of such charge for a new service or revised charge, specifying by whom and in whose behalf such amounts are paid, and upon completion of the hearing and decision may by further order require the interested carrier or carriers to refund, with interest, to the persons in whose behalf such amounts were paid, such portion of such charge for a new service or revised charges as by its decision shall be found not justified. At any hearing involving a new or revised charge, or a proposed new or revised charge, the burden of proof to show that the new or revised charge, or proposed charge, is just and reasonable shall be upon the carrier, and the Commission shall give to the hearing and decision of such questions preference over all other questions pending before it and decide the same as speedily as possible.

(2)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Commission shall, with respect to any hearing under this section, issue an order concluding such hearing within 5 months after the date that the charge, classification, regulation, or practice subject to the hearing becomes effective.

(B)The Commission shall, with respect to any such hearing initiated prior to November 3, 1988, issue an order concluding the hearing not later than 12 months after November 3, 1988.

(C)Any order concluding a hearing under this section shall be a final order and may be appealed under section 402(a) of this title.

(3)A local exchange carrier may file with the Commission a new or revised charge, classification, regulation, or practice on a streamlined basis. Any such charge, classification, regulation, or practice shall be deemed lawful and shall be effective 7 days (in the case of a reduction in rates) or 15 days (in the case of an increase in rates) after the date on which it is filed with the Commission unless the Commission takes action under paragraph (1) before the end of that 7-day or 15-day period, as is appropriate.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may allow part of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice to go into effect, based upon a written showing by the carrier or carriers affected, and an opportunity for written comment thereon by affected persons, that such partial authorization is just, fair, and reasonable. Additionally, or in combination with a partial authorization, the Commission, upon a similar showing, may allow all or part of a charge, classification, regulation, or practice to go into effect on a temporary basis pending further order of the Commission. Authorizations of temporary new or increased charges may include an accounting order of the type provided for in subsection (a).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–104, § 402(b)(1)(A)(i), (ii), substituted “such hearing within 5 months” for “such hearing within 12 months” and struck out before period at end “, or within 15 months after such date if the hearing raises questions of fact of such extraordinary complexity that the questions cannot be resolved within 12 months”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–104, § 402(b)(1)(A)(iii), added par. (3). 1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–538 substituted “a revised charge” for “an increased charge” after “a proposed charge for a new service or”, “or revised” for “or increased” before “charge, specifying by whom and in whose behalf”, “revised charges” for “increased charges” before “as by its decision shall be found not justified”, “new or revised charge, or a proposed new or revised charge” for “charge increased, or sought to be increased” before “, burden of proof to show”, and “new or revised charge” for “increased charge” before “, or proposed charge, is just and reasonable”. 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–594 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–376 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “any new or revised charge” for “any new charge”, “in whole or in part but not for a longer period than five months” for “but not for a longer period than three months”, “after such charge, classification, regulation, or practice had become effective” for “after it had become effective”, “the proposed new or revised charge” for “the proposed change of charge”, “but in case of a proposed charge for a new service or an increased charge” for “but in case of a proposed increased charge”, “by reason of such charge for a new service or increased charge” for “by reason of such increase”, “such portion of such charge for a new service or increased charges” for “such portion of such increased charges”, “burden of proof to show that the increased charge, or proposed charge” for “burden of proof to show that the increased charge, or proposed increased charge”, and struck out “after the organization of the Commission” before “the burden of proof.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–376 added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(4), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by paragraph (1) of this subsection [amending this section and section 208 of this title] shall apply with respect to any charge, classification, regulation, or practice filed on or after one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 1996].” Forbearance Authority Not Limited Pub. L. 104–104, title IV, § 402(b)(3), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 129, provided that: “Nothing in this subsection [amending this section and section 208 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 214 of this title] shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission to waive, modify, or forbear from applying any of the requirements to which reference is made in paragraph (1) [amending this section and section 208 of this title] under any other provision of this Act [see

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of 1996 Amendment note set out under section 609 of this title] or other law.”

§204 Hearings on New Charges; Suspension Pending Hearing; Refunds; Duration of Hearing; Appeal of Order Concluding Hearing

Summary

Title 47, §204

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Short Title

Citations & Metadata