Sec.  0.141   Functions of the Bureau.

   The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau develops and administers the
   Commission's consumer and governmental affairs policies and initiatives to
   enhance  the  public's  understanding  of the Commission's work and to
   facilitate the Agency's relationships with other governmental agencies and
   organizations.  The  Bureau  is responsible for rulemaking proceedings
   regarding general consumer education policies and procedures and serves as
   the primary Commission entity responsible for communicating with the general
   public regarding Commission policies, programs, and activities in order to
   facilitate  public  participation  in the Commission's decision-making
   processes. The Bureau also performs the following functions:

   (a) Advises and makes recommendations to the Commission, or acts for the
   Commission under delegated authority, in matters pertaining to consumers and
   governmental affairs. This includes policy development and coordination as
   well as adjudication and rulemaking.

   (b) Collaborates with, and advises and assists, the public, state and local
   governments, and other governmental agencies and industry groups on consumer
   matters.

   (c) Advises the Commission and other Bureaus and Offices of consumer and
   governmental  affairs-related areas of concern or interest; initiates,
   reviews, and coordinates orders, programs and actions, in conjunction with
   other Bureaus and Offices, in matters regarding consumer education policies
   and procedures, and any other related issues affecting consumer policy;
   represents the Commission on consumer and governmental-related committees,
   working  groups,  task  forces  and conferences within and outside the
   Commission; and provides expert advice and assistance to Bureaus and Offices
   and  consumers  regarding  compliance  with  applicable disability and
   accessibility requirements, rules, and regulations.

   (d) Collects and analyzes information from industry, other Bureaus and
   Offices, and the media, as well as information received in the Bureau from
   informal  consumer inquiries and complaints, rulemakings, and consumer
   forums; identifies trends that affect consumers; in consultation with the
   Office of the Managing Director, provides objectives and evaluation methods
   for  the  public  information  portion  of the Commission's Government
   Performance and Results Act submissions and other Commission-wide strategic
   planning efforts.

   (e) Researches, develops, and distributes materials to inform consumers
   about the Commission's rules, proposals, and events, and to promote consumer
   participation  in Commission rulemakings and activities; maintains the
   Commission's Consumer Information Directory; develops a library of commonly
   requested materials on issues of interest to all consumers. Ensures that
   alternative translations of Commission materials are available to Commission
   employees, Bureaus, Offices, and members of the public.

   (f) Advises and makes recommendations to the Commission, or acts for the
   Commission under delegated authority, in matters pertaining to persons with
   disabilities. Provides expert advice and assistance, as required, to other
   Bureaus and Offices, consumers, industry, and others on issues relevant to
   persons with disabilities. Initiates rulemakings, where appropriate; reviews
   relevant agenda items and other documents and coordinates with Bureaus and
   Offices to develop recommendations and propose policies to ensure that
   communications are accessible to persons with disabilities, in conformance
   with  existing disability laws and policies, and that they support the
   Commission's goal of increasing accessibility of communications services and
   technologies for persons with disabilities.

   (g)  Plans,  develops,  and  conducts  consumer outreach and education
   initiatives to educate the public about important Commission regulatory
   programs.  In coordination with other Bureaus and Offices, establishes
   liaison(s) for information sharing purposes to ensure coordination on all
   consumer  outreach  projects. Ensures that alternative translations of
   Commission materials are available to Commission employees, Bureaus, Offices
   and members of the public.

   (h) Serves as the official FCC records custodian for designated records,
   including intake processing, organization and file maintenance, reference
   services, and retirement and retrieval of records; manages the Electronic
   Comment Filing System and certifies records for adjudicatory and court
   proceedings. Maintains manual and computerized files that provide for the
   public inspection of public record materials concerning Broadcast Ownership,
   AM/FM/TV, TV Translators, FM Translators, Cable TV, Wireless, Auction,
   Common Carrier Tariff matters, International space station files, earth
   station files, DBS files, and other miscellaneous international files. Also
   maintains for public inspection Time Brokerage and Affiliation Agreements,
   court   citation   files,   and   legislative   histories   concerning
   telecommunications dockets. Provides the public and Commission staff prompt
   access to manual and computerized records and filing systems.

   (i)  Provides informal mediation and resolution of individual informal
   consumer inquiries and complaints consistent with Commission regulations.
   Resolves  certain  classes of informal complaints, as specified by the
   Commission, through findings of fact and issuance of orders. Receives,
   reviews, and analyzes responses to informal complaints; maintains manual and
   computerized files that permit the public inspection of informal consumer
   complaints; mediates and attempts to settle unresolved disputes in informal
   complaints as appropriate; and coordinates with other Bureaus and Offices to
   ensure that consumers are provided with accurate, up-to-date information.
   Develops and fosters partnerships with state regulatory entities to promote
   the sharing of information pertaining to informal complaint files maintained
   by the Bureau.

   (j) Provides leadership to other Bureaus and Offices for dissemination of
   consumer information via the Internet.

   (k) In coordination with other Bureaus and Offices, handles Congressional
   and other correspondence related to specific informal consumer complaints,
   or other specific matters within the responsibility of the Bureau, to the
   extent not otherwise handled by the Office of General Counsel or other
   Bureaus or Offices. Responds to and/or coordinates due diligence and other
   requests for information pertaining to informal inquiries and complaints
   under the responsibility of the Bureau with other Bureaus and Offices.

   [ 67 FR 13219 , Mar. 21, 2002]

Office of Administrative Law Judges