Sec. 1.276  Appeal and review of initial decision.

    (a)(1) Within 30 days after the date on which public release of the 
full text of an initial decision is made, or such other time as the 
Commission may specify, any of the parties may appeal to the Commission 
by filing exceptions to the initial decision, and such decision shall 
not become effective and shall then be reviewed by the Commission, 
whether or not such exceptions may thereafter be withdrawn. It is the 
Commission's policy that extensions of time for filing exceptions shall 
not be routinely granted.
    (2) Exceptions shall be consolidated with the argument in a 
supporting brief and shall not be submitted separately. As used in this 
subpart, the term exceptions means the document consolidating the 
exceptions and supporting brief. The brief shall contain (i) a table of 
contents, (ii) a table of citations, (iii) a concise statement of the 
case, (iv) a statement of the questions of law presented, and (v) the 
argument, presenting clearly the points of fact and law relied upon in 
support of the position taken on each question, with specific reference 
to the record and all legal or other materials relied on.
    (b) The Commission may on its own initiative provide, by order 
adopted not

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later than 20 days after the time for filing exceptions expires, that an 
initial decision shall not become final, and that it shall be further 
reviewed or considered by the Commission.
    (c) In any case in which an initial decision is subject to review in 
accordance with paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, the Commission 
may, on its own initiative or upon appropriate requests by a party, take 
any one or more of the following actions:
    (1) Hear oral argument on the exceptions;
    (2) Require the filing of briefs;
    (3) Prior to or after oral argument or the filing of exceptions or 
briefs, reopen the record and/or remand the proceedings to the presiding 
officer to take further testimony or evidence;
    (4) Prior to or after oral argument or the filing of exceptions or 
briefs, remand the proceedings to the presiding officer to make further 
findings or conclusions; and
    (5) Prior to or after oral argument or the filing of exceptions or 
briefs, issue, or cause to be issued by the presiding officer, a 
supplemental initial decision.
    (d) No initial decision shall become effective before 50 days after 
public release of the full text thereof is made unless otherwise ordered 
by the Commission. The timely filing of exceptions, the further review 
or consideration of an initial decision on the Commission's initiative, 
or the taking of action by the Commission under paragraph (c) of this 
section shall stay the effectiveness of the initial decision until the 
Commission's review thereof has been completed. If the effective date of 
an initial decision falls within any further time allowed for the filing 
of exceptions, it shall be postponed automatically until 30 days after 
time for filing exceptions has expired.
    (e) If no exceptions are filed, and the Commission has not ordered 
the review of an initial decision on its initiative, or has not taken 
action under paragraph (c) of this section, the initial decision shall 
become effective, an appropriate notation to that effect shall be 
entered in the docket of the case, and a ``Public Notice'' thereof shall 
be given by the Commission. The provisions of Sec. 1.108 shall not apply 
to such public notices.
    (f) When any party fails to file exceptions within the specified 
time to an initial decision which proposes to deny its application, such 
party shall be deemed to have no interest in further prosecution of its 
application, and its application may be dismissed with prejudice for 
failure to prosecute.

(Sec. 40, 48 Stat. 1096, as amended; 47 U.S.C. )
[28 409 FR 12425 , Nov. 22, 1963, as amended at  41 FR 14873 , Apr. 8, 1976]