Prehearing conference; procedure; prehearing order

(a) The presiding officer may conduct all or part of the prehearing conference by telephone or other electronic means if each participant in the conference has an opportunity to participate in the entire proceeding while it is taking place. (b) The presiding officer shall conduct the prehearing conference, as may be appropriate, to deal with such matters as conversion of the proceeding to another type, exploration of settlement possibilities, preparation of stipulations, clarification of issues, rulings on identity and limitation of the number of witnesses, objections to proffers of evidence, determination of the extent to which direct evidence, rebuttal evidence, or cross-examination will be presented in written form, and the extent to which telephone or other electronic means will be used as a substitute for proceedings in person, order of presentation of evidence and cross-examination, rulings regarding issuance of subpoenas, discovery orders and protective orders and such other matters as will promote the orderly and prompt conduct of the hearing. The presiding officer shall issue a prehearing order incorporating the matters determined at the prehearing conference. (c) If a prehearing conference is not held, the presiding officer for the hearing may issue a prehearing order, based on the pleadings, to regulate the conduct of the proceedings.