[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11673-11674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02946]


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

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Royalty Board

37 CFR Part 351

[Docket No. 21-CRB-0007-RM]


Copyright Royalty Board Regulations Regarding the Conduct of 
Proceedings

AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges propose to amend a regulation to 
clarify that their hearings may be conducted in person at the Library 
of Congress or an alternative location, or virtually, at the Judges' 
discretion. The Judges solicit comments on the proposed amendment.

DATES: Comments are due no later than March 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by docket number 21-CRB-

[[Page 11674]]

0007-RM, online through eCRB at https://app.crb.gov.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Copyright 
Royalty Board name and the docket number for this proposed rule. All 
comments received will be posted without change to eCRB at https://app.crb.gov, including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to eCRB at https://app.crb.gov and perform a case 
search for docket 21-CRB-0007-RM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita Blaine, CRB Program Specialist, 
at 202-707-7658 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) Rule 351.9 
addresses the procedures the Copyright Royalty Judges (Judges) follow 
in conducting hearings. 37 CFR 351.9. Although the rule does not 
currently specify the location for such hearings, historically they 
have been conducted in person at facilities within the Library of 
Congress in Washington, DC. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the 
Library of Congress's facilities have been closed to the public, which 
has required the Judges to conduct proceedings virtually. It is 
uncertain when the Library's facilities will again be available for 
public hearings. Therefore, the Judges believe that it is appropriate 
to codify the fact that future hearings may be conducted physically, 
either at the Library of Congress or an alternative location, or 
virtually, at the Judges' discretion, which this proposed rule would 
accomplish. The Judges seek comments on all aspects of the proposed 
rule.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Judges propose to amend 
37 CFR part 351 as set forth below:

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 351

    Administrative practice and procedure, Copyright.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Copyright Royalty 
Judges propose to amend part 351 of title 37 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 351--PROCEEDINGS

0
1. The authority citation for part 351 continues to read:

    Authority: 17 U.S.C. 803.

0
2. Revise Sec.  351.9(a) to read as follows:


Sec.  351.9  Conduct of hearings.

    (a)(1) By panels. Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, 
hearings will be conducted by Copyright Royalty Judges sitting en banc.
    (2) Location. Hearings will be conducted in person at the Library 
of Congress or an alternative location, or virtually, at the Judges' 
discretion.
* * * * *

    Dated: February 9, 2021.
Jesse M. Feder,
Chief Copyright Royalty Judge.
[FR Doc. 2021-02946 Filed 2-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-72-P