(a) With respect to any proceeding before it, the Board may upon its
own initiative or upon request of any interested person or party direct
the interested persons or parties to appear before the Board or its
designee at a specified time and place in order to simplify the issues
presented or to take up any other matters which may tend to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of the proceeding.
(b) In its discretion, the Board, or a single presiding member, may
permit oral argument in any proceeding. The Board or the presiding
member, shall prescribe the time and place for argument and the time
allotted for argument. A petitioner wishing to make oral argument should
make the request therefor in his petition.
