Sec.  3.51   Cessation of operations.

   The FCC must be notified immediately should an accounting authority plan to
   relinquish its certification or cease to perform settlements as authorized.
   Additionally, the Commission must be advised in advance of any proposed
   transfer of control of an accounting authority's firm or organization, by
   any means, to another entity.

   (a) When an accounting authority is transferred, merged or sold, the new
   entity must apply for certification in its own right if it is interested in
   becoming an accounting authority. Provided the new applicant is eligible and
   completes  the  application  process  satisfactorily, the AAIC will be
   transferred to the new applicant. In the case of a merger of two accounting
   authorities, the merged entity must decide which AAIC to retain.

   (b) Section 3.21(a) will be waived for these applicants.

   (c) The applicant must comply with application process including public
   comment.

   (d) The applicant must certify acceptance of all accounts and must furnish a
   list of the accounts to the Commission at the time of application.