14. Arbitration Open to the Public Though participation at arbitration conferences and hearings is strictly limited to the parties that were negotiating the agreements being arbitrated, the general public is permitted to attend arbitration hearings unless circumstances dictate that a hearing, or portion thereof, be conducted in closed session. Any party to an arbitration seeking a closed session must make a written request to the Arbitrator describing the circumstances compelling a closed session. The Arbitrator shall consult with the assigned Commissioner and rule on such request before hearings begin. 15. Filing of Arbitrator’s Report Within 15 days following the hearings, the Arbitrator, after consultation with the Assigned Commissioner, shall file a Draft Arbitrator’s Report. The Draft Arbitrator’s Report will include (a) a concise summary of the issues resolved by the Arbitrator, and (b) a reasoned articulation of the basis for the decision. 16. Filing of Post-Hearing Briefs and Comments on the Draft Arbitrator’s Report Each party to the arbitration may file a post-hearing brief within 7 days of the end of the mark-up conferences and hearings unless the Arbitrator rules otherwise. Post-hearing briefs shall present a party’s argument in support of adopting its recommended position with all supporting evidence and legal authorities cited therein. The length of post-hearing briefs may be limited by the Arbitrator and shall otherwise comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. Each party and any member of the public may file comments on the Draft arbitrator’s Report within 10 days of its release. Such comments shall not exceed 20 pages. 17. Filing of the Final Arbitrator’s Report The arbitrator shall file the Final Arbitrator’s Report no later than 15 days after the filing date for comments. Prior to the report’s release, the Telecommunications Division will review the report and prepare a matrix comparing the outcomes in the report to those
14. Arbitration Open to the Public Though participation at arbitration conferences and hearings is strictly limited to the parties that were negotiating the agreements being arbitrated, the general public is permitted to attend arbitration hearings unless circumstances dictate that a hearing, or portion thereof, be conducted in closed session. Any party to an arbitration seeking a closed session must make a written request to the Arbitrator describing the circumstances compelling a closed session. The Arbitrator shall consult with the assigned Commissioner and rule on such request before hearings begin. 15. Filing of Arbitrator’s Report Within 15 days following the hearings, the Arbitrator, after consultation with the Assigned Commissioner, shall file a Draft Arbitrator’s Report. The Draft Arbitrator’s Report will include (a) a concise summary of the issues resolved by the Arbitrator, and (b) a reasoned articulation of the basis for the decision. 16. Filing of Post-Hearing Briefs and Comments on the Draft Arbitrator’s Report Each party to the arbitration may file a post-hearing brief within 7 days of the end of the mark-up conferences and hearings unless the Arbitrator rules otherwise. Post-hearing briefs shall present a party’s argument in support of adopting its recommended position with all supporting evidence and legal authorities cited therein. The length of post-hearing briefs may be limited by the Arbitrator and shall otherwise comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. Each party and any member of the public may file comments on the Draft arbitrator’s Report within 10 days of its release. Such comments shall not exceed 20 pages. 17. Filing of the Final Arbitrator’s Report The arbitrator shall file the Final Arbitrator’s Report no later than 15 days after the filing date for comments. Prior to the report’s release, the Telecommunications Division will review the report and prepare a matrix comparing the outcomes in the report to those
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