The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) of the Federal Communications Commission is responsible for conducting the hearings ordered by the Commission. The hearing function includes acting on interlocutory requests filed in the proceedings such as petitions to intervene, petitions to enlarge issues, and contested discovery requests.
An Administrative Law Judge, appointed under the APA, presides at the hearing during which documents and sworn testimony are received in evidence, and witnesses are cross-examined. At the conclusion of the evidentiary phase of a proceeding, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge writes and issues an Initial Decision which may be appealed to the Commission.
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