The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) amends the rules of practice to discontinue the accelerated examination program. In view of the need to efficiently allocate examination-related resources to address pendency, the low number of requests for accelerated examination, and the availability of a statutory program to expedite the prosecution of applications (prioritized examination), the USPTO has decided to discontinue the accelerated examination program and modify the rules of practice to clarify the grounds for which a petition to make special may be granted and when a fee is required for such petition.