[29 FR 6444, May 16, 1964]

§ 1.298 Rulings; time for action.

(a) Unless it is found that irreparable injury would thereby be caused one of the parties, or that the public interest requires otherwise, or unless all parties have consented to the contrary, consideration of interlocutory requests will be withheld until the time for filing oppositions (and replies, if replies are allowed) has expired. As a matter of discretion, however, requests for continuances and extensions of time, requests for permission to file pleadings in excess of the length prescribed in this chapter, and requests for temporary relief may be ruled upon ex parte without waiting for the filing of responsive pleadings.

(b) In the discretion of the presiding officer, rulings on interlocutory matters may be made orally at the hearing. The presiding officer may, in his discretion, state his reasons on the record or subsequently issue a written statement of the reasons for his ruling, either separately or as part of the initial decision.

[28 FR 12425, Nov. 22, 1963, as amended at 29 FR 6444, May 16, 1964; 41 FR 14874, Apr. 8, 1976]

APPEAL AND RECONSIDERATION OF PRESIDING OFFICER'S RULING

§ 1.301 Appeal from presiding officer's interlocutory ruling; effective date of ruling.

(a) Interlocutory rulings which are appealable as a matter of right. Rulings listed in this paragraph are appealable as a matter of right. An appeal from such a ruling may not be deferred and raised as an exception to the initial decision.

(1) If the presiding officer's ruling denies or terminates the right of any person to participate as a party to a hearing proceeding, such person, as a matter of right, may file an appeal from that ruling.

(2) If the presiding officer's ruling requires testimony or the production of documents, over objection based on a claim of privilege, the ruling on the claim of privilege is appealable as a matter of right.

(3) If the presiding officer's ruling denies a motion to disqualify the presiding judge, the ruling is appealable as a matter of right.

(4) Rulings granting a joint request filed under §1.525 without terminating the proceeding are appealable by any party as a matter of right.

(5) A ruling removing counsel from the hearing is appealable as a matter of right, by counsel on his own behalf or by his client. (In the event of such ruling, the presiding officer will adjourn the hearing for such period as is reasonably necessary for the client to secure new counsel and for counsel to familiarize himself with the case).

(b) Other interlocutory rulings. Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, appeals from interlocutory rulings of the presiding officer shall be filed only if allowed by the presiding officer. Any party desiring to file an appeal shall first file a request for permission to file appeal. The request shall be filed within 5 days after the order is released or (if no written order) after the ruling is made. Pleadings responsive to the request shall be filed only if they are requested by the presiding officer. The request shall contain a showing that the appeal presents a new or novel question of law or policy and that the ruling is such that error would be likely to require remand should the appeal be deferred and raised as an exception. The presiding officer shall determine whether the showing is such as to justify an interlocutory appeal and, in accordance with his determination, will either allow or disallow the appeal or modify the ruling. If the presiding officer allows or disallows the appeal, his ruling is final: Provided, however, That the Commission may, on its own motion, dismiss an appeal allowed by the presiding officer on the ground that objection to the ruling should be deferred and raised as an exception. In the discretion of the presiding officer, the request for permission to file appeal may be made orally, on the record of the proceeding. The request may be disposed of orally.

(1) If an appeal is not allowed, or is dismissed by the Commission, or if permission to file an appeal is not re

quested, objection to the ruling may be raised on review of the initial decision.

(2) If an appeal is allowed and is considered on its merits, the disposition on appeal is final. Objection to the ruling or to the action on appeal may not be raised on review of the initial decision.

(3) If the presiding officer modifies the ruling, any party adversely affected by the modified ruling may file a request for permission to file appeal, pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph.

(c) Procedures, effective date. (1) Unless the presiding officer orders otherwise, rulings made by him shall be effective when the order is released or (if no written order) when the ruling is made. The Commission may stay the effect of any ruling which comes before it for consideration on appeal.

(2) Appeals filed under paragraph (a) of this section shall be filed within 5 days after the order is released or (if no written order) after the ruling is made. Appeals filed under paragraph (b) of this section shall be filed within 5 days after the appeal is allowed.

(3) The appeal shall conform with the specifications set out in §1.49 and shall be subscribed and verified as provided in §1.52.

(4) The appeal shall be served on parties to the proceeding (see §§1.47 and 1.211), and shall be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

(5) The appeal shall not exceed 5 double-spaced typewritten pages.

(6) Appeals are acted on by the Review Board.

(7) Oppositions and replies shall be served and filed in the same manner as appeals and shall be served on appellant if he is not a party to the proceeding. Oppositions shall be filed within 5 days after the appeal is filed. Replies shall not be permitted, unless the Commission specifically requests them. Oppositions shall not exceed 5 doublespaced typewritten pages. Replies shall not exceed 5 double-spaced typewritten pages.

(Secs. 4, 303, 307, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1082, 1083; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307)

[35 FR 17333, Nov. 11, 1970, as amended at 40 FR 39509, Aug. 28, 1975; 41 FR 14874, Apr. 8,

1976; 41 FR 28789, July 13, 1976; 46 FR 58682, Dec. 3, 1981; 55 FR 36641, Sept. 6, 1990]

§1.302 Appeal from presiding officer's final ruling; effective date of ruling. (a) If the presiding officer's ruling terminates a hearing proceeding, any party to the proceeding, as a matter of right, may file an appeal from that ruling within 30 days after the ruling is released.

(b) Any party who desires to preserve the right to appeal shall file a notice of appeal within 10 days after the ruling is released. If a notice of appeal is not filed within 10 days, the ruling shall be effective 30 days after the ruling is released and within this period, may be reviewed by the Commission or the Review Board on its own motion. If an appeal is not filed following notice of appeal, the ruling shall be effective 50 days after the day of its release and, within this period, may be reviewed by the Commission or the Review Board on its own motion. If an appeal is filed, or if the Commission or the Review Board reviews the ruling on its own motion, the effect of the ruling is further stayed pending the completion of proceedings on appeal or review.

(c) The appeal shall conform with the specifications set out in §1.49 and shall be subscribed and verified as provided in §1.52.

(d) The appeal shall be served on parties to the proceeding (see §§ 1.47 and 1.211), and shall be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.

(e) The appeal shall not exceed 25 double-spaced typewritten pages.

(f) If the Commission would have reviewed an initial decision in the proceeding (see §0.365(a) of this chapter), the Commission will act on the appeal. In all other cases, the appeal will be acted on by the Review Board. The caption of the appeal shall specify whether the appeal is to be acted on by the Commission or the Review Board.

(g) Oppositions and replies shall be filed and served in the same manner as the appeal. Oppositions to an appeal shall be filed within 15 days after the appeal is filed. Replies to oppositions shall be filed within 10 days after the opposition is filed and shall be limited to matters raised in the oppositions.

Oppositions shall not exceed 25 doublespaced typewritten pages. Replies shall not exceed 10 double-spaced typewritten pages.

[35 FR 17333, Nov. 11, 1970, as amended at 36 FR 7423, Apr. 20, 1971]

THE DISCOVERY AND PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE

AUTHORITY: Sections 1.311 through 1.325 are issued under secs. 4, 303, 409, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1082, 1096; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 409, 5 U.S.C. 552.

§1.311 General.

Sections 1.311 through 1.325 provide for taking the deposition of any person (including a party), for interrogatories to parties, and for orders to parties relating to the production of documents and things and for entry upon real property. These procedures may be used for the discovery of relevant facts, for the production and preservation of evidence for use at the hearing, or for both purposes.

(a) Applicability. For purposes of discovery, these proecdures may be used in any case of adjudication (as defined in the Administrative Procedure Act) which has been designated for hearing. For the preservation of evidence, they may be used in any case which has been designated for hearing and is conducted under the provisions of this subpart (see §1.201).

(b) Scope of examination. Persons and parties may be examined regarding any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the hearing issues, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts. It is not ground for objection to use of these procedures that the testimony will be inadmissible at the hearing if the testimony sought appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. The use of these procedures against the Commission is subject to the following additional limitations:

(1) The informer's privilege shall encompass information which may lead to the disclosure of an informer's identity.

(2) Commission personnel may not be questioned by deposition for the purposes of discovery except on special order of the Commission, but may be questioned by written interrogatories under $1.323. Interrogatories shall be served on the appropriate Bureau Chief (see §1.21(b)). They will be answered and signed by those personnel with knowledge of the facts. The answers will be served by the Secretary of the Commission upon parties to the proceeding.

(3) Commission records are not subject to discovery under §1.325. The inspection of Commission records is governed by the Freedom of Information Act, as amended, and by $$0.451 through 0.467 of this chapter. Commission employees may be questioned by written interrogatories regarding the existence, nature, description, custody, condition and location of Commission records, but may not be questioned concerning their contents unless the records are available (or are made available) for inspection under §§0.451 through 0.467. See $0.451(b)(5) of this chapter.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (b) (1) through (3) of this section, Commission personnel may be questioned generally by written interrogatories regarding the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of relevant documents and things and regarding the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, and may otherwise only be examined regarding facts of the case as to which they have direct personal knowledge.

(c) Schedule for use of the procedures. (1) In comparative broadcast proceedings involving applicants for only new facilities, discovery commences with the release of the hearing designation order, and, in routine cases, the discovery phase of the proceeding will be conducted in a manner intended to conclude that portion of the case within 90 days of the release of the designation order.

(2) In all other proceedings, except as provided by special order of the presiding officer, discovery may be initiated before or after the prehearing conference provided for in §1.248 of this part.

(3) In all proceedings, the presiding officer may at any time order the parties or their attorneys to appear at a conference to consider the proper use of these procedures, the time to be allowed for such use, and/or to hear agrument and render a ruling on disputes that arise under these rules.

(d) Who shall act. Actions provided for in §§1.311 through 1.325 will, in most cases, be taken by the officer designated to preside at the hearing (see §1.241). If the proceeding, or a particular matter to which the action relates, is before the Commission, the Review Board, a commissioner or panel of commissioners, or the Chief Administrative Law Judge, the action will be taken by such officer or body. The term "presiding officer", as used in §§1.311 through 1.325 shall be understood to refer to the appropriate officer or body. See §§0.341, 0.351, 0.365, and 1.271 of this chapter.

(e) Stipulations regarding the taking of depositions. If all of the parties so stipulate in writing and if there is no interference to the conduct of the proceeding, depositions may be taken before any person, at any time (subject to the limitation below) or place, upon any notice and in any manner, and when so taken may be used like other depositions. An original and one copy of the stipulation shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the stipulation shall be served on the presiding officer, at least 3 days before the scheduled taking of the deposition.

[33 FR 463, Jan. 12, 1968, as amended at 40 FR 39509, Aug. 28, 1975; 47 FR 51873, Nov. 18, 1982; 56 FR 794, Jan. 9, 1991]

$1.313 Protective orders.

The use of the procedures set forth in §§1.311 through 1.325 of this part is subject to control by the presiding officer, who may issue any order consistent with the provisions of those sections which is appropriate and just for the purpose of protecting parties and deponents or of providing for the proper conduct of the proceeding. Whenever doing so would be conducive to the efficient and expeditious conduct of the proceeding, the presiding officer may convene a conference to hear argument and issue a ruling on any disputes that may arise under these rules. The rul

ing, whether written or delivered on the record at a conference, may specify any measures, including the following to assure proper conduct of the proceeding or to protect any party or deponent from annoyance, expense, embarassment or oppression:

(a) That depositions shall not be taken or that interrogatories shall not be answered.

(b) That certain matters shall not be inquired into.

(c) That the scope of the examination or interrogatories shall be limited to certain matters.

(d) That depositions may be taken only at some designated time or place, or before an officer, other than that stated in the notice.

(e) That depositions may be taken only by written interrogatories or only upon oral examination.

(f) That, after being sealed, the deposition shall be opened only by order of the presiding officer.

[33 FR 463, Jan. 12, 1968, as amended at 56 FR 794, Jan. 9, 1991]

§1.315 Depositions upon oral examination-notice and preliminary procedure.

(a) Notice. A party to a hearing proceeding desiring to take the deposition of any person upon oral examination shall give a minimum of 21 days notice in writing to every other party, to the person to be examined, and to the presiding officer. An original and three copies of the notice shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission. Related pleadings shall be served and filed in the same manner. The notice shall contain the following information:

(1) The name and address of each person to be examined, if known, and if the name is not known, a general description sufficient to identify him or the particular class or group to which he belongs.

(2) The time and place for taking the deposition of each person to be examined, and the name or descriptive title and address of the officer before whom the deposition is to be taken.

(3) The matters upon which each person will be examined. See § 1.319.

(b) Responsive pleadings. (1) Within 7 days after service of the notice to take

depositions, a motion opposing the taking of depositions may be filed by any party to the proceeding or by the person to be examined. See §1.319(a).

(2) Within 14 days after service of the notice to take depositions, a response to the opposition motion may be filed by any party to the proceeding.

(3) Additional pleadings should not be filed and will not be considered.

(4) The computation of time provisions set forth in §1.4(g) shall not apply to pleadings filed under the provisions of this paragraph.

(c) Protective order. On an opposition motion filed under paragraph (b) of this section, or on his own motion, the presiding officer may issue a protective order. See §1.313. A protective order issued by the presiding officer on his own motion may be issued at any time prior to the date specified in the notice for the taking of depositions.

(d) Authority to take depositions. (1) If an opposition motion is not filed within 7 days after service of the notice to take depositions, and if the presiding officer does not on his own motion issue a protective order prior to the time specified in the notice for the taking of depositions, the depositions described in the notice may be taken. An order for the taking of depositions is not required.

(2) If an opposition motion is filed, the depositions described in the notice shall not be taken until the presiding officer has acted on that motion. If the presiding officer authorizes the taking of depositions, he may specify a time, place or officer for taking them different from that specified in the notice to take depositions.

(3) If the presiding officer issues a protective order, the depositions described in the notice may be taken (if at all) only in accordance with the provisions of that order.

(e) Broadcast comparative proceedings involving applicants for only new facilities. In these cases, the 21-day advance notice provision of paragraph (a) of this section shall be inapplicable to depositions of active and passive owners of applicants in the proceeding. All applicants in such proceedings should be prepared to make their active and passive owners available for depositions during the period commencing

with the deadline for filing notices of appearance and ending 90 days after the release of the designation order, if such depositions are requested by a party to the proceeding. All such depositions will be conducted in Washington, DC or in the community of license of the proposed station, at the deponent's option, unless all parties agree to some other location.

[33 FR 10571, July 25, 1968, as amended at 56 FR 794, Jan. 9, 1991]

$1.316 Depositions upon written interrogatories-notice and preliminary procedure.

(a) Service of interrogatories; notice. A party to the hearing proceeding desiring to take the deposition of any person upon written interrogatories shall serve the interrogatories upon every other party and shall give a minimum of 35 days notice in writing to every other party and to the person to be examined. An original and three copies of the interrogatories and the notice (and of all related pleadings) shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission. A copy of the interrogatories and the notice (and of all related pleadings) shall be served on the presiding officer. The notice shall contain the following information:

(1) The name and address of each person to be examined, if known, and if the name is not known, a general description sufficient to identify him or the particular class or group to which he belongs.

(2) The time and place for taking the deposition of each person to be examined, and the name or descriptive title and address of the officer before whom the deposition is to be taken.

(3) The matters upon which each person will be examined. See § 1.319.

(b) Additional interrogatories. Within 7 days after the filing and service of the original interrogatories, any other party to the proceeding may, in the same manner, file and serve additional interrogatories to be asked of the same witness at the same time and place, with notice to the witness of any additional matters upon which he will be examined.

(c) Cross interrogatories. Within 14 days after the filing and service of the original interrogatories, any party to