Sec.  0.460   Requests for inspection of records which are routinely available for
public inspection.

   (a) Sections 0.453 and 0.455 list those Commission records which are
   routinely available for public inspection and the places at which those
   records may be inspected. Subject to the limitations set out in this section
   and to the provisions of  Sec. 0.466 and paragraph (l) of this section, a person
   who wants to inspect such records need only appear at the specified location
   and ask to see the records. Many such records also are available through the
   Commission's site on the World Wide Web, located at http://www.fcc.gov.
   Commission documents listed in  Sec. 0.416 are published in the FCC Record, and
   many such documents or summaries thereof are also published in the Federal
   Register.

   (b) A person who does not want a copy of the records must appear at the
   specified location during the office hours of the Commission and must
   inspect the records at that location. (Procedures governing requests for
   copies are set out in  Sec. 0.465.) However, arrangements may be made in advance,
   by telephone or by correspondence, to make the records available for
   inspection on a particular date, and there are many circumstances in which
   such advance arrangements will save inconvenience. If the request is for a
   large number of documents, for example, a delay in collecting them is
   predictable. Current records may be in use by the staff when the request is
   made. Older records may have been forwarded to another location for storage.

   (c) The records in question must be reasonably described by the person
   requesting them so as to permit their location by staff personnel. The
   information needed to locate the records will vary, depending on the records
   requested. Advice concerning the kind of information needed to locate
   particular records will be furnished in advance upon request. Members of the
   public will not be given access to the area in which records are kept and
   will not be permitted to search the files.

   (d) If it appears that there will be an appreciable delay in locating or
   producing the records (as where a large number of documents is the subject
   of a single request or where an extended search for a document appears to be
   necessary), the request shall be submitted in writing, either in person or
   by mail.

   (e) Written requests shall be captioned “REQUEST FOR INSPECTION OF
   RECORDS”, shall be dated, shall list the telephone number (if any) of the
   person making the request and for each document requested, shall set out all
   information known to the person making the request which would be helpful in
   identifying and locating the document. Written requests shall, in addition,
   specify the maximum search fee the person making the request is prepared to
   pay. (see  Sec. 0.467)

   (f) Written requests shall be delivered or mailed directly to the chief of
   the organizational unit having custody of the records, as listed in  Sec.  Sec. 0.453
   and 0.455. If the request is enclosed in an envelope, the envelope shall be
   marked, “REQUEST FOR INSPECTION OF RECORDS.”

   (g) When a written request is received by the custodian of the records, it
   will be date-stamped.

   (h) All requests limited to records listed in  Sec.  Sec. 0.453 and 0.455 will be
   granted, subject to paragraph (k) of this section. Requests for records
   listed in those sections shall not be combined with requests for other
   records.

   (i) The records will be produced for inspection at the earliest possible
   time.

   (j) Records shall be inspected within 7 days after notice is given that they
   have been located and are available for inspection. After that period, they
   will be returned to storage and additional charges may be imposed for again
   producing them.

   (k) In addition to the other requirements of this section, the following
   provisions apply to the reports filed with the Commission pursuant to
   subpart E of part 19 of this chapter. (1) Such reports shall not be obtained
   or used:

   (i) For any unlawful purpose; (ii) for any commercial purpose, other than by
   news and communications media for dissemination to the general public; (iii)
   for determining or establishing the credit rating of any individual; or (iv)
   for use, directly or indirectly, in the solicitation of money for any
   political, charitable, or other purpose.

   (2) Such reports may not be made available to any person nor may any copy
   thereof be provided to any person except upon a written application by such
   person stating: (i) That person's name, occupation and address; (ii) the
   name and address of any other person or organization on whose behalf the
   inspection or copying is requested; and (iii) that such person is aware of
   the prohibitions on the obtaining or use of the report. Further, any such
   application for inspection shall be made available to the public throughout
   the period during which the report itself is made available to the public.

   (Secs. 4, 303, 307, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1082, 1083; 47 U.S.C. 154,
   303, 397; 18 U.S.C. 207(j))

   [ 40 FR 7314 , Feb. 19, 1975, as amended at  45 FR 85027 , Dec. 24, 1980;  48 FR 44800 , Sept. 30, 1983;  53 FR 39093 , Oct. 5, 1988;  62 FR 51797 , Oct. 3, 1997]