Agencies and Commissions September 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has adopted final amendments to its Regulation A to reflect the Board's approval of an increase in the primary credit rate at each Federal Reserve Bank. The secondary credit rate at each Reserve Bank automatically increased by formula as a result of the Board's primary credit rate action.

NASA hereby gives notice that United Aerospace, Inc., of New York, New York, has applied for an exclusive license to practice the invention disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,186,693 entitled PASSIVE CAPTURE JOINT WITH THREE DEGREES OF FREEDOM and assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Written objections to the prospective grant of a license should be sent to Mr. Jerry L. Seemann, Chief Patent Counsel/LS01, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812. NASA has not yet made a determination to grant the requested license and may deny the requested license even if no objections are submitted within the comment period.

This notice increases the guarantee fee charged on each guaranteed bond (other than a bid bond) and payable by surety companies participating in SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program from 20% of the bond premium to 32% of the bond premium, effective April 3, 2006. SBA has determined that the fee increase is necessary to supplement reserves in the SBG Program's revolving fund to better offset unfunded program liabilities resulting from claims filed by sureties under SBA's guarantee. This notice also addresses comments received by SBA in response to the notice proposing the fee increase, which was published in the Federal Register on August 15, 2005.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Federal Election Commission requests comments on proposed revisions to its definitions of the terms ``to solicit'' and ``to direct'' for its regulations on raising and spending Federal and non- Federal funds. Current Commission regulations define ``to solicit'' as ``to ask that another person make a contribution, donation, transfer of funds, or otherwise provide anything of value.'' The regulations define ``to direct'' as ``to ask a person who has expressed an intent to make a contribution, donation, or transfer of funds, or to provide anything of value, to make that contribution, donation, or transfer of funds, or to provide that thing of value.'' These rules were challenged in Shays v. FEC. Upholding a District Court decision, the Court of Appeals held that the Commission's definitions of ``to solicit'' and ``to direct'' were invalid because they violated Congress's intent. The Commission has filed a petition for a rehearing en banc of the Court of Appeals decision. At the same time, to comply with the decisions of the District Court and the Court of Appeals, the Commission is issuing this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding its definitions of ``to solicit'' and ``to direct.'' No final decision has been made by the Commission on the issues presented in this rulemaking. Further information is provided in the supplementary information that follows.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is proposing to amend Rule 1.3(bb) by adding to that rule a definition of the term ``client,'' as it relates to commodity trading advisors (CTAs) (Proposal). This would clarify inconsistencies in the Commission's regulations concerning the advisees of CTAs. The Proposal would also reflect the Commission's longstanding view that its antifraud authority extends to all CTAs, irrespective of whether they provide advice on a personalized or nonpersonalized basis.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through January 31, 2009 the current PRA clearances for information collection requirements contained in four consumer financial regulations enforced by the Commission. Those clearances expire on January 31, 2006.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In this document, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) invited commenters to propose revisions to part 23 of the Commission's rules, governing International Fixed Public Radiocommunication Services (IFRS). Because no one proposed any revisions to part 23, we terminate our consideration of part 23 issues in this context of IB Docket 00- 248.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register on November 22, 2004 (69 FR 67823), revising Commission rules. That document inadvertently deleted 900 MHz frequencies available in Sec. 90.613. This document corrects the final regulations by revising Sec. 90.613 to add the deleted 900 MHz frequencies.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through November 30, 2008, the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for information collection requirements contained in its regulations under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461 (``FPLA''). That clearance expires on November 30, 2005.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.