PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 96-2029 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: December 4, 1996 COMMERCIAL WIRELESS DIVISION PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CASE BACKLOG REDUCTION AND PROCEDURES FOR STATUS INQUIRIES In January 1996, the Wireless Telecommunication Bureau established a Bureau-wide task force, headed by the Commercial Wireless Division Legal Branch, to resolve backlogged cases affecting Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) that had been filed before the creation of the Bureau in November 1994, as well as cases filed during 1995. To date, the task force has reduced the total number of backlogged cases by 36%, and has implemented procedures to accelerate the resolution of the remaining cases. Processing Priorities: The task force has given top priority to resolving cases where the particular service at issue is not being provided to a particular area due to the pendency of the litigation. The task force has resolved the majority of these cases, and is currently contacting counsel or parties (if not represented by counsel) in the remaining cases to determine whether the parties wish to pursue their claims. We will require settlement conferences for cases we believe are ripe for such discussions, and we continue to encourage parties to settle their cases privately wherever possible. Cases that do not settle will be assigned to staff based on order of filing. However, we remind parties that cases may not be resolved in filing order, as the more complex cases will take longer to complete. Legal Branch staff attorneys have also been assigned and have commenced the processing of cases filed during calendar year 1996. Resolution of these cases will proceed concurrently as the task force works to reduce the number of pre-1996 cases. Case Status Inquiries: The Legal Branch frequently receives telephone inquiries regarding the status of pending cases from parties and their counsel. To assist the public in obtaining case status information, we establish the following procedures: 1. Case status information will be provided over the Internet as part of the Wireless Telecommunication Bureau's Home Page, located at http://fcc.gov/wtb/wirehome.html. The list will be revised on a monthly basis. 2. Telephone status inquiries regarding particular cases should be directed to Bobby Brown, Legal Branch Paralegal, at (202) 418-0620. Inquiries regarding the status of the case backlog as a whole should be directed to Janet Sievert, Deputy Chief of the Legal Branch, also at (202) 418-0620. Inquires can also be made by E-Mailing the Legal Branch at CWD-Legal@fcc.gov. We request that parties not direct status inquiries to the individual staff attorneys assigned to their cases. 3. Because responding to repeated status inquiries diverts scarce staff resources from handling cases, we request that parties limit telephone inquiries to one per month for any individual case, unless compelling reasons require otherwise. Repeated status inquiries will not result in faster resolution of any case. 4. Parties are reminded that contested cases are restricted proceedings under the ex parte rules. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1208. The Commission staff will not provide any information regarding any case other than its status. Consequently, parties should limit their contact with Commission staff to status inquiries only: parties may not state or imply a preference for a particular party or position, state why timing is important to a particular party, or otherwise attempt, directly or indirectly, to address the merits or outcome of the proceeding. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1202(a). Action by Chief, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.