---
kind: "section"
citation: "39 C.F.R. § 3012.4"
title: "39"
number: "3012.4"
heading: "Definitions of persons subject to ex parte communication rules."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/39/3012.4"
---

# §3012.4. Definitions of persons subject to ex parte communication rules.

- (a) **Commission decision-making personnel include—**
  - (1) The Commissioners and their staffs;
  - (2) The General Counsel and staff;
  - (3) The Director of the Office of Accountability and Compliance and staff;
  - (4) Contractors, consultants, and others hired by the Commission to assist with the Commission's analysis and decision; and
  - (5) Any other employee who may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process.
- (b) The Postal Service includes all Postal Service employees, contractors, consultants, and others with an interest in a matter before the Commission. Any interaction between the Postal Service and Commission decision-making personnel concerning a matter before the Commission expresses an interest in the matter before the Commission.
- (c) Public stakeholders include all other persons not previously described, with an interest in a matter before the Commission. This includes the Commission non-decision-making personnel identified in [paragraph (d)](#d) of this section. Any interaction between a public stakeholder and Commission decision-making personnel concerning a matter before the Commission expresses an interest in the matter before the Commission.
- (d) **Commission non-decision-making personnel include—**
  - (1) All Commission personnel other than decision-making personnel;
  - (2) Commission personnel not participating in the decisional process owing to the prohibitions of [§ 3010.144](/cfr/39/3010.144.md) of this chapter regarding no participation by investigative or prosecuting officers;
  - (3) The Public Representative and other Commission personnel assigned to represent the interests of the general public pursuant to [39 U.S.C. 505](/usc/39/505.md) in the specific case or controversy at issue (regardless of normally assigned duties); and
  - (4) Contractors, consultants, and others hired by the Commission to provide an independent analysis of issues before the Commission (and Commission employees assigned thereto).

## Notes

### Amendments

[81 FR 42541, June 30, 2016, as amended at 85 FR 9645, Feb. 19, 2020]

### Authority

Authority: 39 U.S.C. 404(d)(5); 503; 504; 3661(c); 3662.

### Source

Source: 81 FR 42541, June 30, 2016, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 85 FR 9615, Feb. 19, 2020.

### Amendments

[81 FR 42541, June 30, 2016, as amended at 85 FR 9645, Feb. 19, 2020]