Technologie i telekomunikacja · 10.01.1997

Metric Conversion of Tariff Publications and Supporting Information

In a 1993 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission sought comment on a proposal to amend Part 61 of its rules to mandate metric conversion of common carrier tariff publications and supporting information (``tariff materials''). The Commission made this proposal to facilitate use of these materials in light of the increased employment of metric units of measurement in this country and Congressional policy that the metric system of measurement be employed wherever possible. Based upon the comments received and its own analysis, the Commission concluded, in this Report and Order, that it would not be in the public interest to require common carriers to convert to the metric system those units of measure appearing in their tariff materials. Specifically, the Commission found that the benefits to carriers and their customers of such mandatory metric conversion--or of requiring that conversion tables be included in such materials--were not clear enough to justify the carrier burdens involved. Accordingly, the Commission declined to adopt any of the proposed conversion options and, instead, terminated this proceeding.