[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 23, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21341]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 0

[DA 00-1784]


Freedom of Information Act

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission is modifying a section 
of the Commission's rules that implements the Freedom of Information 
Act (FOIA) Fee Schedule. This modification pertains to the charge for 
recovery of the full, allowable direct costs of searching for and 
reviewing records requested under the FOIA and the Commission's rules, 
unless such fees are restricted or waived. The fees are being revised 
to correspond to modifications in the rate of pay approved by Congress.

DATES: Effective September 22, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Abbate, Freedom of Information 
Act Officer, Office of Performance Evaluation and Records Management, 
Room 1A827, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., 
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0440 or via Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Communications Commission is 
modifying Sec. 0.467(a) of the Commission's rules. This rule pertains 
to the charges for searching and reviewing records requested under the 
FOIA. The FOIA requires federal agencies to establish a schedule of 
fees for the processing of requests for agency records in accordance 
with fee guidelines issued by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). In 1987, OMB issued its Uniform Freedom of Information Act Fee 
Schedule and Guidelines. However, because the FOIA requires that each 
agency's fees be based upon its direct costs of providing FOIA 
services, OMB did not provide a unitary, government-wide schedule of 
fees. The Commission based its FOIA Fee Schedule on the grade level of 
the employee who processes the request. Thus, the Fee Schedule was 
computed at a Step 5 of each grade level based on the General Schedule 
effected January 1987. The revisions correspond to modifications in the 
rate of pay recently approved by Congress.

Regulatory Procedures

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order No. 12866 and has 
been determined not to be a ``significant rule'' since it will not have 
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.
    In addition, it has been determined that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 0

    Freedom of information.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
 Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Part 0 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as 
follows:

PART 0--COMMISSION ORGANIZATION

    1. The authority citation for Part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 155, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 0.467 (a) (1) is amended by revising the last sentence, 
the table in paragraph (a)(1) and its note, and paragraph (a)(2) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 0.467  Search and Review Fees.

    (a)(1) * * * The fee is based on the grade level of the employee(s) 
who conduct(s) the search or review, as specified in the following 
schedule:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Grade                              Hourly fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GS-1.......................................................         9.85
GS-2.......................................................        10.73
GS-3.......................................................        12.10
GS-4.......................................................        13.57
GS-5.......................................................        15.18
GS-6.......................................................        16.93
GS-7.......................................................        18.80
GS-8.......................................................        20.83
GS-9.......................................................        23.00
GS-10......................................................        25.34
GS-11......................................................        27.84
GS-12......................................................        33.37
GS-13......................................................        39.68
GS-14......................................................        46.88
GS-15......................................................        55.15
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: These fees will be modified periodically to correspond 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
with modifications in the rate of pay approved by Congress.

    (2) The fees in paragraph (a)(1) of this section were computed at 
Step 5 of each grade level based on the General Schedule effective 
January 2000 and include 20 percent for personnel benefits.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 00-21341 Filed 8-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P