{"abstract":"In order to implement a new statutory provision of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Commission adopts rules establishing a default dispute resolution process to be used when technical disputes arise between a non-accredited standards development organization (NASDO) and any party who funds the activities of the NASDO. Under the new rules, disputes will be resolved by a recommendation of a three-person expert panel, selected by both the disputing party and the NASDO, with the recommendation subject to disapproval by a vote of three-fourths of the other funding parties. As intended by Congress, this procedure ensures that disputes can be resolved in an open, non-discriminatory, and unbiased fashion within 30 days, and it will be used only when all of the parties are unable to agree on a process for resolving their disputes. In addition, persons who willfully refer frivolous disputes will be subject to forfeiture pursuant to section 503(b) of the Communications Act.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION","name":"Federal Communications Commission","id":161,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-communications-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/161","parent_id":null,"slug":"federal-communications-commission"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1996/05/17/96-12217.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":64,"title":47}],"citation":"61 FR 24897","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"June 17, 1996.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["GC Docket No. 96-42","FCC 96-205"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"96-12217","effective_on":null,"end_page":24904,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1996/05/17/96-12217/implementation-of-section-273d5-of-the-communications-act-of-1934-as-amended-by-the","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/96-12217?publication_date=1996-05-17","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1996-05-17/96-12217/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":8,"page_views":{"count":28,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-05-17/pdf/96-12217.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1996-05-17","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1996/05/17/96-12217.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-21T04:12:42Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":24897,"subtype":null,"title":"Implementation of Section 273(d)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Dispute Resolution Regarding Equipment Standards","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":61}