Guidelines for Filing Electronic Comments

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is committed to taking advantage of new information technologies to serve the public. As part of this commitment, the FCC implemented an Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) that makes it much easier for you to participate in the Commission rulemaking process. By making it simpler to submit comments, the Commission receives greater and more diverse public input.

If you would like to file your comments electronically, the following guidelines will help you.

Comment Due Dates
Copies
Finding FCC Proceeding Documents
Submitting Your Comments via the Electronic Comment Filing System
E-mailing Your Comments
Adobe Acrobat
Viewing Comments
ECFS Proceeding History
Frequently Asked Questions
ECFS User Manual
Further Assistance
Suggestions

Comment Due Dates

Electronic comments must be filed by 12:00AM Midnight ET on the deadline date. The deadline date is almost always included on the first page of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or Notice of Inquiry.

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Copies

Generally, only one copy of an electronic comment must be filed. However, if you want to file comments on a proceeding that lists multiple docket or rulemaking numbers on its front page, you must transmit one electronic copy of your comments for each docket or rulemaking number shown.

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Finding FCC Proceeding Documents

All official documents released by the FCC since March 1996 are posted on the Commission’s Web Site. To find a particular document, you can use the Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS) Search to search for documents posted on the Internet.

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Submitting Your Comments via the Electronic Comment Filing System

Procedures for submitting your comment via the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) are outlined in the ECFS User Manual. This document lists the information you will need before you begin filing your electronic comment. It also instructs you on how to send an attached file or send a brief comment. You will learn that submitting your comment using the Electronic Comment File Submission is a 2-step process. The first step is to complete and send a coversheet. After you send the coversheet you'll need to choose one of two transmittal methods: sending a file, or sending a short message that you type directly on the submission form.

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E-mailing Your Comments

You may send your comments by e-mail if you prefer or if your Internet browser does not support the level of access you need for an Electronic Comment File Submission. You can e-mail your comments by following the E-mailing Filing Procedures. The procedures will instruct you to send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov with "get form" and your e-mail address in the message of your e-mail. A sample form and instructions will be sent in reply. The E-mail Filing Procedures give detailed instructions, including what information will be required on the form you will receive and a sample of a completed form. You are encouraged to read the Procedures before you attempt to file your comment by e-mail.

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Adobe Acrobat

All comments are provided in Portable Document Format (PDF) in order to retain all of the formatting of the original document including fonts, footnotes, headers, footers, and graphics. Portable Document Format can only be displayed using Acrobat Reader software available free from Adobe Systems, Inc. Information is also available on how to install and use the Acrobat Reader.

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Viewing Comments

The Electronic Comment Filing System allows you to view other comments that have been filed in FCC Docket or Rulemaking proceedings.Comments become available throughout each day as they disseminated.

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ECFS Proceeding History

After you have properly filed your comments with the FCC, they will be part of the official Commission record. To track the progress of proceedings in which you have filed comments, you may request an Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) Proceeding History Report.

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Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find ECFS Frequently Asked Questions helpful. Questions and answers are added on a regular basis.

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ECFS User Manual

The ECFS User Manual covers in detail accessing ECFS, sending comments, finding comments, and using the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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Further Assistance

For assistance in using ECFS, please send an e-mail to ecfshelp@fcc.gov or call (202) 418-0193. The ECFS Help Line is available live, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM ET. Any calls that are received after hours or on weekends/holidays will be answered promptly on the following business day.

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Suggestions

For suggestions and comments regarding the system design and operation, please contact Sheryl Segal at ssegal@fcc.gov or (202) 418-0260, TTY (202) 418-2555.

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Last reviewed/updated on 1/23/2003.