(a)(1) Commercial use requesters. (i) When the Commission receives a request for documents for commercial use, it will assess charges that recover the full direct cost of searching for, reviewing and duplicating the records sought pursuant to Sec. 0.466 and Sec. 0.467, above.
(1) Commercial use requesters. (i) When the Commission receives a request for documents for commercial use, it will assess charges that recover the full direct cost of searching for, reviewing and duplicating the records sought pursuant to Sec. 0.466 and Sec. 0.467, above.
(i) When the Commission receives a request for documents for commercial use, it will assess charges that recover the full direct cost of searching for, reviewing and duplicating the records sought pursuant to Sec. 0.466 and Sec. 0.467, above.
(ii) Commercial use requesters shall not be assessed search fees if the Commission fails to comply with the time limits under Sec. 0.461(g)(1), if no unusual or exceptional circumstances (Sec. 0.461(g)(1)(i) through (iii)) apply to the processing of the request.
(2) Educational and non-commercial scientific institution requesters and requesters who are representatives of the news media. (i) The Commission shall provide documents to requesters in these categories for the cost of reproduction only, pursuant to Sec. 0.465 above, excluding reproduction charges for the first 100 pages, provided however, that requesters who are representatives of the news media shall be entitled to a reduced assessment of charges only when the request is for the purpose of distributing information.
(i) The Commission shall provide documents to requesters in these categories for the cost of reproduction only, pursuant to Sec. 0.465 above, excluding reproduction charges for the first 100 pages, provided however, that requesters who are representatives of the news media shall be entitled to a reduced assessment of charges only when the request is for the purpose of distributing information.
(ii) Educational requesters or requesters who are representatives of the news media shall not be assessed fees for the cost of reproduction if the Commission fails to comply with the time limits under Sec. 0.461(g)(1), if no unusual or exceptional circumstances (Sec. 0.461(g)(1)(i) through (iii)) apply to the processing of the request.
(3) All other requesters. (i) The Commission shall charge requesters who do not fit into any of the categories above fees which cover the full, reasonable direct cost of searching for and reproducing records that are responsive to the request, pursuant to Sec. 0.465 and Sec. 0.467, except that the first 100 pages of reproduction and the first two hours of search time shall be furnished without charge.
(i) The Commission shall charge requesters who do not fit into any of the categories above fees which cover the full, reasonable direct cost of searching for and reproducing records that are responsive to the request, pursuant to Sec. 0.465 and Sec. 0.467, except that the first 100 pages of reproduction and the first two hours of search time shall be furnished without charge.
(ii) All other requesters shall not be assessed search fees if the Commission fails to comply with the time limits under Sec. 0.461(g)(1), if no unusual or exceptional circumstances (Sec. 0.461(g)(1)(i) through (iii)) apply to the processing of the request.
(b)(1) The 100 page restriction on assessment of reproduction fees in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section refers to 100 paper copies of a standard size, which will normally be ``8\1/2\ x 11'' or ``11 x 14.''
(1) The 100 page restriction on assessment of reproduction fees in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section refers to 100 paper copies of a standard size, which will normally be ``8\1/2\ x 11'' or ``11 x 14.''
(2) When the agency reasonably believes that a requester or group of requesters is attempting to segregate a request into a series of separate individual requests for the purpose of evading the assessment of fees, the agency will aggregate any such requests and assess charges accordingly.
(c) When a requester believes he or she is entitled to a reduced fee assessment pursuant to paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, or a waiver pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section, the requester must include, in his or her original FOIA request, a statement explaining with specificity, the reasons demonstrating that he or she qualifies for a reduced fee or a fee waiver. Included in this statement should be a certification that the information will not be used to further the commercial interests of the requester.
Note to paragraph (c):
Anyone requesting a reduced fee or a fee waiver must submit the request directly to the Commission and not to the contractor who will provide documents only at the contract price.
(d) If the Commission reasonably believes that a commercial interest exists, based on the information provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, the requester shall be so notified and given an additional ten business days to provide further information to justify receiving a reduced fee. See Sec. 0.467(e)(2). During this time period, the materials will be available for inspection to the extent that the time period exceeds the time period for responding to FOIA requests, as appropriate.
(e)(1) Copying, search and review charges shall be waived or reduced by the General Counsel when ``disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.'' 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). Simply repeating the fee waiver language of section 552(a)(4)(A)(iii) is not a sufficient basis to obtain a fee waiver.
(1) Copying, search and review charges shall be waived or reduced by the General Counsel when ``disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.'' 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). Simply repeating the fee waiver language of section 552(a)(4)(A)(iii) is not a sufficient basis to obtain a fee waiver.
(2) The criteria used to determine whether disclosure is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government include:
(i) Whether the subject of the requested records concerns the operations or activities of the government;
(ii) Whether the disclosure is likely to contribute to an understanding of government operations or activities; and
(iii) Whether disclosure of the requested information will contribute to public understanding as opposed to the individual understanding of the requester or a narrow segment of interested persons.
(3) The criteria used to determine whether disclosure is primarily in the commercial interest of the requester include:
(i) Whether the requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure; and, if so
(ii) Whether the magnitude of the identified commercial interest of the requester is sufficiently large, in comparison with the public interest in disclosure, that disclosure is primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.
(4) This request for fee reduction or waiver must accompany the initial request for records and will be decided under the same procedures used for record requests.
(5) If no fees or de minimis fees would result from processing a FOIA request and a fee waiver or reduction has been sought, the General Counsel will not reach a determination on the waiver or reduction request.
(f) Whenever the total fee calculated under this section is $15 or less, no fee will be charged.
(g) Review of initial fee determinations under Sec. 0.467 through Sec. 0.470 and initial fee reduction or waiver determinations under Sec. 0.470(e) may be sought under Sec. 0.461(j). [74 FR 14078, Mar. 30, 2009, as amended at 76 FR 24390, May 2, 2011]
Places for Making Submittals or Requests, for Filing Applications, and
for Taking Examinations