the Commission's statutory mandate was altered to provide for less regulation over rail freight rates and practices. This fundamental shift in national

transportation policy was reinforced by enactment of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 (49 U.S.C. 10101 nt.), the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (49 U.S.C. 10101 nt.), the Household Goods Transportation Act of 1980 (49 U.S.C. 10101 nt.), and the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. 10101 nt.). These measures provided for a sharply reduced Federal role in regulating the trucking, railroad, and bus industries.

The Chairman is designated by the President from among the

Commissioners. The Commissioners elect their own Vice Chairman annually and may delegate certain duties and functions to individual Commissioners or to boards consisting of not less than three eligible employees.

Field offices are maintained in various cities to audit carrier accounts, monitor the utilization of railroad freight cars in order to avoid severe shortages, investigate violations of the Interstate Commerce Act and related laws, and provide assistance to the public in its use of regulated carriers that provide transportation by railroad, highway, and waterway.

Activities

In broad terms and within prescribed legal limits, Commission regulations encompass transportation economics and service.

In the transportation economics area, the Commission settles controversies over rates and charges among competing modes of transportation, shippers, receivers of freight, passengers, and others. It rules upon applications for mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions of control. It prescribes accounting rules, awards reparations, and administers laws relating to railroad bankruptcy. It acts to prevent unlawful discrimination, destructive competition, and rebating. It also has jurisdiction over the use, control, supply, movement, distribution, exchange, interchange, and return of railroad equipment. Under certain

conditions, it is authorized to direct the handling and movement of traffic over a railroad and its distribution over other lines of railroads.

In the transportation service area, the Commission grants the right to operate to railroads, trucking companies, bus lines, freight forwarders, water carriers, and transportation brokers. It also approves applications to construct and abandon railroad lines.

Although public hearings on matters before the Commission may be held at any point throughout the country, final decisions are made at the Washington, DC, headquarters in all formal proceedings. These cases include rulings upon rate changes, applications to engage in for-hire transport, carrier mergers, adversary proceedings on complaint actions, and punitive measures taken in enforcement matters.

Consumer protection programs involve ensuring that the public obtains full measure of all transportation services to which entitlement is guaranteed by the Interstate Commerce Act. This law ensures that rates will be fair and service will be reasonable. Discrimination, preferential treatment, or prejudicial actions by carriers are illegal, and instances of such violations should be brought to the attention of the Commission at its headquarters or any field office.

The Office of Special Counsel was created by the Commission in November 1978 to help determine the public interest in proceedings subject to Commission jurisdiction. The Office can participate as a party or as an aid in the establishment of a record in those proceedings in which the public interest would be otherwise inadequately represented. The Office has authority to appear before the Commission, other agencies, and the courts. The Office is now part of the Office of Public Assistance.

The Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 created in early 1974 a Rail Services Planning Office to ensure that public interest is represented in the restructuring and revitalization of railroads in the Northeast and Midwest.

Sources of Information

Consumer Affairs Among the many consumer-oriented services are a series of advisory bulletins alerting the public and prospective transportation users to the existence of certain transportation problems. There is also a regulation requiring household goods carriers to furnish an information bulletin to each prospective customer. These public advisories may be obtained from the Office of Compliance and Consumer Assistance, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202-275-7849.

Contracts and Procurement Inquiries regarding the Commission's procurement and contracting activities should be addressed to the Chief, Procurement and Contracting Branch, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202-275-0890.

Employment Send applications for employment to the Director of Personnel, Interstate Commerce

Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202-275-7288. Publications A complete list of publications, including explanatory material on the operation and activities of the Interstate Commerce Commission, and on special consumer-related fields such as household goods movements and small shipments, is available. This list may be obtained from the Office of Government and Public Affairs, Room 4111, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202275-7252.

Reading Rooms The library and several rooms at ICC headquarters are available for records inspection and copying. Requests for access to public records should be made at the Office of the Secretary, Room 2215, ICC Building, or write to the Secretary, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202-275-7428. Small Business Activities The Commission maintains a Public Assistance Office to help the small business owner or transportation firm in such matters as how to file protests on rates, how to file for new operating authority or extensions, or how to get adequate service where there is none. Inquiries should be addressed to the Public Assistance Office, Room 3125, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202275-7597.

Speakers Requests for speakers to discuss subjects relating to the Commission's organization, operations, procedures, and regulations should be directed to the Office of Government and Public Affairs, Room 4111, Interstate Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423. Phone, 202-275-7252.