47 U.S.C. § 204 — Hearings on new charges; suspension pending hearing; refunds; duration of hearing; appeal of order concluding hearing

(a)(1) When a carrier files a new or changed charge, classification, regulation, or practice, the Commission can investigate it — either because someone complained or on its own. It gives reasonable notice before starting a hearing. While the hearing is happening, the Commission can suspend (pause) the new charge, but only for up to five months past when it would otherwise start. The Commission must give the carrier a written explanation of why it's suspending the charge. After a full hearing, the Commission can issue whatever order would be proper. If the hearing isn't finished within the five-month suspension period, the new charge automatically goes into effect. But for a new service's charge, the Commission can order the carrier to keep careful records of the money it collects — who paid and on whose behalf. If the Commission later decides part of the charge wasn't justified, it can order the carrier to refund that amount, with interest, to the people who paid it. At any hearing about a new, revised, or proposed charge, the carrier — not the Commission — has the burden to prove the charge is just and reasonable. The Commission must treat these hearings as a priority over its other work and decide them as fast as possible. (a)(2)(A) Except as described in (B) below, the Commission must finish any hearing under this section within 5 months after the charge, classification, regulation, or practice takes effect. (a)(2)(B) For hearings that started before November 3, 1988, the Commission had until 12 months after that date to finish. (a)(2)(C) Any order that ends a hearing under this section is final and can be appealed under section 402(a) of this title. (a)(3) A local phone company (a "local exchange carrier") can file a new or changed charge using a faster, streamlined process. That charge is automatically considered lawful and takes effect 7 days later if it's a rate cut, or 15 days later if it's a rate increase — unless the Commission steps in and takes action under paragraph (1) before that 7- or 15-day period ends. (b) Even though subsection (a) describes the normal suspension process, the Commission can also let part of a new charge, classification, regulation, or practice take effect early. To do this, the carrier must submit a written explanation, and other affected people must get a chance to comment in writing, showing that the partial approval is just, fair, and reasonable. The Commission can also allow all or part of a charge to take effect temporarily, while it keeps deciding the full case. When it allows a temporary new or increased charge this way, it can also require the same kind of accounting and refund order described in subsection (a).