this part where applicable, for the purpose of rulemaking or to obtain information necessary or helpful in the determination of its policies or the carrying out of its duties, and may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence to the extent permitted by law. [Rule 141.]

§ 502.142 Hearings required by statute. In complaint and answer cases, investigations on the Commission's own motion, and in other rulemaking and adjudication proceedings in which a hearing is required by statute, formal hearings shall be conducted pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 554. [Rule 142.]

§ 502.143 Notice of nature of hearing, jurisdiction and issues.

Persons entitled to notice of hearings, except those notified by complaint served under §502.113, will be duly and timely informed of (a) the nature of the proceeding, (b) the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the proceeding is conducted, and (c) the terms, substance, and issues involved, or the matters of fact and law asserted, as the case may be. Such notice shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER unless all persons subject thereto are named and either are personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance with law. [Rule 143.]

[49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984; 49 FR 47394, Dec. 4, 1984, as amended at 64 FR 7810, Feb. 17, 1999]

§ 502.144 Notice of time and place of hearing; postponement of hearing. (a) Notice of hearing will designate the time and place thereof, the person or persons who will preside, and the kind of decision to be issued. The date or place of a hearing for which notice has been issued may be changed when warranted. Reasonable notice will be given to the parties or their representatives of the time and place of the change thereof, due regard being had for the public interest and the convenience and necessity of the parties or their representatives. Notice may be served by mail or telegraph. Notice may be served by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail.

(b) Motions for postponement of any hearing date shall be filed in accordance with § 502.104. [Rule 144.]

[49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984, as amended at 64 FR 7810, Feb. 17, 1999; 64 FR 23551, May 3, 1999]

§ 502.145 Presiding officer.

(a) Definition. Presiding officer includes, where applicable, a member of the Commission or an administrative law judge. (See § 502.25.)

(b) Designation of administrative law judge. An administrative law judge will be designated by the Chief of the Commission's Office of Administrative Law Judges to preside at hearings required by statute, in rotation so far as practicable, unless the Commission or one or more members thereof shall preside, and will also preside at hearings not required by statute when designated to do so by the Commission.

(c) Unavailability. If the presiding officer assigned to a proceeding becomes unavailable to the Commission, the Commission, or Chief Judge (if such presiding officer was an administrative law judge), shall designate a qualified officer to take his or her place. Any motion predicated upon the substitution of a new presiding officer for one originally designated shall be made within ten (10) days after notice of such substitution. [Rule 145.]

§ 502.146 Commencement of functions of Office of Administrative Law Judges.

In proceedings handled by the Office of Administrative Law Judges, its functions shall attach:

(a) Upon the service by the Commission of a complaint filed pursuant to $502.62, or §502.182, or upon referral under subpart T of this part; or

(b) Upon reference by the Commission of a petition for a declaratory order pursuant to § 502.68; or

(c) Upon forwarding for assignment by the Office of the Secretary of a special docket application pursuant to § 502.271; or

(d) Upon the initiation of a proceeding and ordering of hearing before an administrative law judge. [Rule 146.]

[49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984, as amended at 64 FR 7810, Feb. 17, 1999]

§ 502.147 Functions and powers.

(a) Of presiding officer. The officer designated to hear a case shall have authority to arrange and give notice of hearing; sign and issue subpenas authorized by law; take or cause depositions to be taken; rule upon proposed amendments or supplements to pleadings; delineate the scope of a proceeding instituted by order of the Commission by amending, modifying, clarifying or interpreting said order; inform the parties as to the availability of one or more alternative means of dispute resolution, encourage use of such methods, and require consideration of their use at an early stage of the proceeding; hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties or by the use of alternative means of dispute resolution; transmit the request of parties for the appointment of a mediator or settlement judge, as provided by § 502.91 of this part; require the attendance at any such conference pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 556(c)(8), of at least one representative of each party who has authority to negotiate concerning resolution of issues in controversy; regulate the course of the hearing; prescribe the order in which evidence shall be presented; dispose of procedural requests or similar matters; hear and rule upon motions; administer oaths and affirmations; examine witnesses; direct witnesses to testify or produce evidence available to them which will aid in the determination of any question of fact in issue; rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant material, reliable and probative evidence; act upon petitions to intervene; permit submission of facts, arguments, offers of settlement, and proposals of adjustment; and, if the parties so request, issue formal opinions providing tentative evaluations of the evidence submitted; hear oral argument at the close of testimony; fix the time for filing briefs, motions, and other documents to be filed in connection with hearings and the administrative law judge's decision thereon, except as otherwise provided by the rules in this part; act upon petitions for enlargement of time to file such documents, including answers to formal complaints; and dispose of any other matter that normally and properly

arises in the course of proceedings. The presiding officer or the Commission may exclude any person from a hearing for disrespectful, disorderly, or contumacious language or conduct.

(b) All of the functions delegated in subparts A to Q and subpart T of this part, inclusive, to the Chief Judge, presiding officer, or administrative law judge include the functions with respect to hearing, determining, ordering, certifying, reporting, or otherwise acting as to any work, business, or matter, pursuant to the provisions of section 105 of Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1961. [Rule 147.]

[49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984; 49 FR 47394, Dec. 4, 1984, as amended at 58 FR 38650, July 19, 1993; 64 FR 7810, Feb. 17, 1999]

§ 502.148 Consolidation of proceedings.

The Commission or the Chief Judge (or designee) may order two or more proceedings which involve substantially the same issues consolidated and heard together. [Rule 148.]

§ 502.149 Disqualification of presiding or participating officer.

Any presiding or participating officer may at any time withdraw if he or she deems himself or herself disqualified, in which case there will be designated another presiding officer. If a party to a proceeding, or its representative, files a timely and sufficient affidavit of personal bias or disqualification of a presiding or participating officer, the Commission will determine the matter as a part of the record and decision in the case. [Rule 149.]

§ 502.150 Further evidence required by presiding officer during hearing. At any time during the hearing, the presiding officer may call for further evidence upon any issue, and require such evidence where available to be presented by the party or parties concerned, either at the hearing or adjournment thereof. [Rule 150.]

§ 502.151 Exceptions to rulings of presiding officer unnecessary.

Formal exceptions to rulings of the presiding officer are unnecessary. It is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling of the presiding officer is made or sought, makes known the action

which it desires the presiding officer to take or its objection to an action taken, and its grounds therefor. [Rule 151.]

§ 502.152 Offer of proof.

An offer of proof made in connection with an objection taken to any ruling of the presiding officer rejecting or excluding proffered oral testimony shall consist of a statement of the substance of the evidence which counsel contends would be adduced by such testimony; and, if the excluded evidence consists of evidence in documentary or written form or of reference to documents or records, a copy of such evidence shall be marked for identification and shall constitute the offer of proof. [Rule 152.]

§ 502.153 Appeal from ruling of presiding officer other than orders of dismissal in whole or in part.

(a) Rulings of the presiding officer may not be appealed prior to or during the course of the hearing, or subsequent thereto, if the proceeding is still before him or her, except where the presiding officer shall find it necessary to allow an appeal to the Commission to prevent substantial delay, expense, or detriment to the public interest, or undue prejudice to a party.

(b) Any party seeking to appeal must file a motion for leave to appeal no later than fifteen (15) days after written service or oral notice of the ruling in question, unless the presiding officer, for good cause shown, enlarges or shortens the time. Any such motion shall contain not only the grounds for leave to appeal but the appeal itself.

(c) Replies to the motion for leave to appeal and the appeal may be filed within fifteen (15) days after date of service thereof, unless the presiding officer, for good cause shown, enlarges or shortens the time. If the motion is granted, the presiding officer shall certify the appeal to the Commission.

(d) Unless otherwise provided, the certification of the appeal shall not operate as a stay of the proceeding before the presiding officer.

(e) The provisions of § 502.10 shall not apply to this section. [Rule 153.]

§ 502.154 Rights of parties as to presentation of evidence.

Every party shall have the right to present its case or defense by oral or documentary evidence, to submit rebuttal evidence, and to conduct such cross-examination as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts. The presiding officer shall, however, have the right and duty to limit the introduction of evidence and the examination and cross-examination of witnesses when in his or her judgment, such evidence or examination is cumulative or is productive of undue delay in the conduct of the hearing. [Rule 154.]

§ 502.155 Burden of proof.

In all cases, as prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 556(d), the burden of proof shall be on the proponent of the rule or order. [Rule 155.]

[61 FR 66617, Dec. 18, 1996]

§ 502.156 Evidence admissible.

In any proceeding under the rules in this part, all evidence which is relevant, material, reliable and probative, and not unduly repetitious or cumulative, shall be admissible. All other evidence shall be excluded. Unless inconsistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act and these Rules, the Federal Rules of Evidence, Public Law 93-595, effective July 1, 1975, will also be applicable. [Rule 156.]

§ 502.157 Written evidence.

(a) The use of written statements in lieu of oral testimony shall be resorted to where the presiding officer in his or her discretion rules that such procedure is appropriate. The statements shall be numbered in paragraphs, and each party in its rebuttal shall be required to list the paragraphs to which it objects, giving an indication of its reasons for objecting. Statistical exhibits shall contain a short commentary explaining the conclusions which the offeror draws from the data. Any portion of such testimony which is argumentative shall be excluded. Where written statements are used,

copies of the statement and any rebuttal statement shall be furnished to all parties, as shall copies of exhibits. The presiding officer shall fix respective dates for the exchange of such written rebuttal statements and exhibits in advance of the hearing to enable study by the parties of such testimony. Thereafter, the parties shall endeavor to stipulate as many of the facts set forth in the written testimony as they may be able to agree upon. Oral examination of witnesses shall thereafter be confined to facts which remain in controversy, and a reading of the written statements at the hearing will be dispensed with unless the presiding officer otherwise directs.

a

(b) Where a formal hearing is held in rulemaking proceeding, interested persons will be afforded an opportunity to participate through submission of relevant, material, reliable and probative written evidence properly verified, except that such evidence submitted by persons not present at the hearing will not be made a part of the record if objected to by any party on the ground that the person who submits the evidence is not present for cross-examination. [Rule 157.]

[49 FR 44369, Nov. 6, 1984; 49 FR 47394, Dec. 4, 1984]

§ 502.158 Documents containing matter not material.

Where written matter offered in evidence is embraced in a document containing other matter which is not intended to be offered in evidence, the offering party shall present the original document to all parties at the hearing for their inspection, and shall offer a true copy of the matter which is to be introduced, unless the presiding officer determines that the matter is short enough to be read into the record. Opposing parties shall be afforded an opportunity to introduce in evidence, in like manner, other portions of the original document which are material and relevant. [Rule 158.]

§ 502.159 [Reserved]

§ 502.160 Records in other proceedings.

When any portion of the record before the Commission in any proceeding

Where any matter contained in a tariff, report, or other document on file with the Commission is offered in evidence, such document need not be produced or marked for identification, but the matter so offered shall be specified in its particularity, giving tariff number and page number of tariff, report, or document in such manner as to be readily identified, and may be received in evidence by reference, subject to comparison with the original document on file. [Rule 161.]

§ 502.162 Stipulations.

The parties may, by stipulation, agree upon any facts involved in the proceeding and include them in the record with the consent of the presiding officer. It is desirable that facts be thus agreed upon whenever practicable. Written stipulations shall be subscribed and shall be served upon all parties of record unless presented at the hearing or prehearing conference. A stipulation may be proposed even if not subscribed by all parties without prejudice to any nonsubscribing party's right to cross-examine and offer rebuttal evidence. [Rule 162.]

§ 502.163 Receipt of documents after hearing.

Documents or other writings to be submitted for the record after the close of the hearing will not be received in evidence except upon permission of the presiding officer. Such documents or other writings when submitted shall be accompanied by a statement that copies have been served upon all parties, and shall be received, except for good cause shown, not later than ten (10) days after the close of the hearing and not less than (10) days prior to the date set for filing briefs. Exhibit numbers will not be assigned until such documents are actually received and incorporated in the record. [Rule 163.]

§ 502.164 Oral argument at hearings.

Oral argument at the close of testimony may be ordered by the presiding officer in his or her discretion. [Rule 164.]

§ 502.165 Official transcript.

(a) The Commission will designate the official reporter for all hearings. The official transcript of testimony taken, together with any exhibits and any briefs or memoranda of law filed therewith, shall be filed with the Commission. Transcripts of testimony will be available in any proceeding under the rules in this part, and will be supplied by the official reporter to the parties and to the public, except when required for good cause to be held confidential, at rates not to exceed the maximum rates fixed by contract between the Commission and the reporter.

(b)(1) Section 11 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act provides that, except where prohibited by contractual agreements entered into prior to the effective date of this Act, agencies and advisory committees shall make available to any person, at actual cost of duplication, copies of transcripts of agency proceedings or advisory committee meetings. As used in this section, "agency proceeding" means any proceeding as defined in 5 U.S.C. 551(12).

(2) The Office of Management and Budget has interpreted this provision as being applicable to proceedings before the Commission and its administrative law judges. (Guidelines, 38 FR 12851, May 16, 1973.)

(3) The Commission interprets section 11 and the OMB guidelines as follows:

(i) Future contracts between the Commission and the successfully bidding recording firm will provide that any party to a Commission proceeding or other interested person (hereinafter included within the meaning of "party") shall be able to obtain a copy of the transcript of the proceeding in which it is involved at the actual cost of duplication of the original transcript, which includes a reasonable amount for overhead and profit, except where it requests delivery of copies in

a shorter period of time than is required for delivery by the Commission.

(ii) The Commission will bear the full expense of transcribing all of its administrative proceedings where it requests regular delivery service (as set forth in the Contract). In cases where the Commission requests daily delivery of transcript copies (as set forth in the Contract), any party may receive daily delivery service at the actual cost of duplication.

(iii)(A) Where the Commission does not request daily copy service, any party requesting such service must bear the incremental cost of transcription above the regular copy transcription cost borne by the Commission, in addition to the actual cost of duplication, except that where the party applies for and properly shows that the furnishing of daily copy is indispensable to the protection of a vital right or interest in achieving a fair hearing, the presiding officer in the proceeding in which the application is made shall order that daily copy service be provided the applying party at the actual cost of duplication, with the full cost of transcription being borne by the Commission.

(B) In the event a request for daily copy is denied by the presiding officer, the requesting party, in order to obtain daily copy, must pay the cost of transcription over and above that borne by the Commission, i.e., the incremental cost between that paid by the Commission when it requests regular copy and when it requests daily copy.

(C) The decision of the presiding officer in this situation is interpreted as falling within the scope of the functions and powers of the presiding officer, as defined in §502.147(a). [Rule 165.] § 502.166 Corrections of transcript.

Motions made at the hearing to correct the record will be acted upon by the presiding officer. Motions made after the hearing to correct the record shall be filed with the presiding officer within twenty-five (25) days after the last day of hearing or any session thereof, unless otherwise directed by the presiding officer, and shall be served on all parties. Such motions may be in the form of a letter. If no objections are received within ten (10)