(a) Every portion of every Commission meeting shall be open to public observation, except as provided in § 702.53 of this subpart. Commissioners shall not jointly conduct or dispose of agency business other than in accordance with this subpart.

(b) This subpart gives the public the right to attend and observe Commission open meetings; it confers no right to participate in any way in such meetings.

(c) The Staff Director shall be responsible for making physical arrangements for Commission open meetings that provide ample space, sufficient visibility, and adequate acoustics for public observation.

(d) The presiding Commissioner at an open meeting may exclude persons from a meeting and shall take all steps necessary to preserve order and decorum.