On February 15, FERC issued a final order modifying the Open-Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) that, among other things, advances new policy to create a transparent and open regional planning process. While the Commission agreed that there are benefits to joint ownership of transmission facilities, particularly large, backbone facilities, it did not mandate an "open season" procedure to allow market participants to participate in joint ownership, because it felt it could increase complexities in planning and development of transmission. Instead, the Commission encouraged transmission providers and customers to consider the use of open seasons to realize construction upgrades identified in the planning studies.