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Lesson Five: Finding Agency Decisions on the Web

Assume that you now want to check the FCC website to see if there are recent agency decisions on telephone issues. From the FCC home page, you should choose "Search," and from the Search page, choose the FCC Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS). This and similar systems at other federal agencies are more complex than many web site search engines, but careful use of these systems allows you access to a large number of documents which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to retrieve. These documents may include formal reported or unreported agency decisions, and documents unlikely ever to be published, such as informal rulings, interim orders, and public comments responding to proposed regulations. Using this system shows the benefits of taking the time to thoroughly explore in depth the agency websites for your area of practice. 

Searching by docket number is often the most effective way to find relevant FCC documents in the database. Here, the docket number 94-129 appeared in the Federal Register discussion of the telephone slamming issue. Choose EDOCS Advanced Search. Try entering 94-129 in the "Docket or RM" box, and click on the query button.

You'll notice that near the beginning of the listed documents are some "limited waivers" for particular companies. In practice, these types of documents can help a lawyer to decide whether a client may be eligible for special treatment by the agency, and how the lawyer might tailor such a request for the best likelihood of success.

Note, too, that your results here include over 100 documents, and so you may decide to narrow your search with an appropriate date or other restriction.