Space Regulatory Glossary Filing Types

ex parte

/ɛks ˈpɑːrteɪ/ noun, adjective

1. A communication between an outside party and FCC decision-makers (commissioners or staff) regarding a pending proceeding that occurs outside the formal public record. FCC rules require most ex parte contacts to be disclosed by filing a notice in ECFS within specified timeframes.
2. Ex parte filings are a routine part of FCC advocacy — operators, trade associations, and law firms file them to present data, clarify positions, or respond to staff questions. The public record of ex parte notices provides visibility into which parties are actively lobbying on a proceeding.

Origin Latin, 'from one side.' In FCC practice, refers to any off-the-record communication about a pending matter.

Read: FCC Satellite Licensing

Related terms

ECFS The Electronic Comment Filing System. The FCC's online platform for submitting and viewing public comments, reply… FCC The Federal Communications Commission. The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international… NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. A formal document issued by a federal agency — most commonly the FCC in the satellite… public notice A formal FCC announcement that a satellite or earth station application has been accepted for filing and is available…

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