Sec. 1.94  Consent order procedures.

    (a) Negotiations leading to a consent order may be initiated by the 
operating Bureau or by a party whose possible violations are issues in 
the proceeding. Negotiations may be initiated at any time after 
designation of a proceeding for hearing. If negotiations are initiated 
the presiding officer shall be notified. Parties shall be prepared at 
the initial prehearing conference to state whether they are at that time 
willing to enter negotiations. See Sec. 1.248(c)(7). If either party is 
unwilling to enter negotiations, the hearing proceeding shall proceed. 
If the parties agree to enter negotiations, they will be afforded an 
appropriate opportunity to negotiate before the hearing is commenced.

[[Page 121]]

    (b) Other parties to the proceeding are entitled, but are not 
required, to participate in the negotiations, and may join in any 
agreement which is reached.
    (c) Every agreement shall contain the following:
    (1) An admission of all jurisdictional facts;
    (2) A waiver of the usual procedures for preparation and review of 
an initial decision;
    (3) A waiver of the right of judicial review or otherwise to 
challenge or contest the validity of the consent order;
    (4) A statement that the designation order may be used in construing 
the consent order;
    (5) A statement that the agreement shall become a part of the record 
of the proceeding only if the consent order is signed by the presiding 
officer and the time for review has passed without rejection of the 
order by the Commission;
    (6) A statement that the agreement is for purposes of settlement 
only and that its signing does not constitute an admission by any party 
of any violation of law, rules or policy (see 18 U.S.C. 6002); and
    (7) A draft order for signature of the presiding officer resolving 
by consent, and for the future, all issues specified in the designation 
order.
    (d) If agreement is reached, it shall be submitted to the presiding 
officer or Chief Administrative Law Judge, as the case may be, who shall 
either sign the order, reject the agreement, or suggest to the parties 
that negotiations continue on such portion of the agreement as he 
considers unsatisfactory or on matters not reached in the agreement. If 
he rejects the agreement, the hearing shall proceed. If he suggests 
further negotiations, the hearing will proceed or negotiations will 
continue, depending on the wishes of parties to the agreement. If he 
signs the consent order, he shall close the record.
    (e) Any party to the proceeding who has not joined in any agreement 
which is reached may appeal the consent order under Sec. 1.302, and the 
Commission may review the agreement on its own motion under the 
provisions of that section. If the Commission rejects the consent order, 
the proceeding will be remanded for further proceedings. If the 
Commission does not reject the consent order, it shall be entered in the 
record as a final order and is subject to judicial review on the 
initiative only of parties to the proceeding who did not join in the 
agreement. The Commission may revise the agreement and consent order. In 
that event, private parties to the agreement may either accept the 
revision or withdraw from the agreement. If the party whose possible 
violations are issues in the proceeding withdraws from the agreement, 
the consent order will not be issued or made a part of the record, and 
the proceeding will be remanded for further proceedings.
    (f) The provisions of this section shall not alter any existing 
procedure for informal settlement of any matter prior to designation for 
hearing (see, e.g., 47 U.S.C. 208) or for summary decision after 
designation for hearing.
    (g) Consent orders, pleadings relating thereto, and Commission 
orders with respect thereto shall be served on parties to the 
proceeding. Public notice will be given of orders issued by an 
administrative law judge, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, or the 
Commission. Negotiating papers constitute work product, are available to 
parties participating in negotiations, but are not routinely available 
for public inspection.
[ 41 FR 14871 , Apr. 8, 1976]