How to Write Effective Comments In Response to FCC Proceedings
Read the Fact Sheet on the FCC website: “How To Comment”. It explains the different acronyms and terms that the FCC uses in its proceedings and walks you through how to send in electronic or paper comments.
Tips For Submitting Effective Comments:
Be sure that you fully understand the issue being discussed so that your comments are fully relevant.
Make sure you understand the applicable laws and regulations and exactly what
they cover. For example, DVDs and software programs are not covered by TV
captioning rules.
Read the original FCC Notice. Underline the questions that you wish to respond to.
Read SHHH and other organizations’ positions on the issue, if available
Read SHHH and other organizations’ comments submitted to the FCC, if available.
Be sure to read comments from organizations that hold opposite views from your own, and take note of any specific opinions or facts that you disagree with. In your own comments, provide detailed information to counter incorrect information from these other sources.
Contact SHHH national office staff at info@hearingloss.org to find out the pros and cons if no formal position or comments are available.
If the Notice asks many questions, do not feel obligated to comment on every one. Select those questions that you are most concerned about, that affect you the most and that you understand the best.
Keep comments targeted to the issues within the scope of the Notice.
Give the proceeding Docket Number and Name at the top of your email or letter.
In the opening sentences make it clear what your position is, what you support, what you don’t support, and what you are asking the FCC to do.
Write out the question you are responding to, identifying it with the paragraph and section number.
Give real-life examples of how the proposed regulation would impact your life negatively or positively, or, if appropriate, of how failures to comply with the regulation have adversely affected you.
Ask someone you know who can quickly give you objective feedback to review your comments before you send them in.
