Agencies and Commissions 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 58243, and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The Federal Trade Commission is amending the premerger notification rules, which require the parties to certain mergers or acquisitions to file reports with the Commission and with the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (``DOJ'') and to wait a specified period of time before consummating such transactions, pursuant to Section 7A of the Clayton Act (``the Act''). The filing and waiting period requirements enable these enforcement agencies to determine whether a proposed merger or acquisition may violate the antitrust laws if consummated and, when appropriate, to seek a preliminary injunction in Federal court to prevent consummation. If either agency determines during the waiting period that further inquiry is necessary, it can issue a Request for Additional Information and Documentary Materials (``second request''), which extends the waiting period for a specified period after all parties have complied with the request (or, in the case of a tender offer or a bankruptcy sale, after the acquiring person complies). The Commission is amending the Notification and Report Form and its Instructions (``the Form and Instructions'') to relieve some of the burden when complying with Items 4(a) and (b). Currently, paper copies of annual reports, annual audit reports and regularly prepared balance sheets and copies of certain documents, such as 10Ks filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC''), must be provided in response to these Items. The modification of paragraph 803.2(e) will allow filing persons to provide an operative Internet address linking directly to the documents required by Items 4(a) and (b) in lieu of providing paper copies. The Commission is also amending the rules to specify that an acquiring person's notification, and an acquired person's notification in certain types of transactions, shall expire after eighteen months if a second request to either person remains outstanding. In addition, the Commission is making technical corrections to certain rules and to the Form and Instructions to address minor oversights in the final rules promulgated in connection with the treatment of unincorporated entities.\1\

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to adjust acquisition-related thresholds for inflation. Section 807 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) requires that the FAR Council periodically adjust all statutory acquisition-related dollar thresholds in the FAR for inflation, except the statute does not permit escalation of acquisition-related dollar thresholds established by the Davis-Bacon Act, the Service Contract Act, or trade agreements. This rule also proposes to amend other acquisition-related thresholds that are based on policy rather than statute. Inflation adjustment of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) thresholds in the CAS regulations is simultaneously addressed in a separate case.

The invention listed below assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has been filed in the United States Patent and Trademark office, and is available for licensing.

The inventions listed below assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, have been filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and are available for licensing.

The invention listed below is assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the subject of a patent application that has been filed in the United States Patent and Trademark office, and is available for licensing.

The inventions listed below assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, have been filed in the United States Patent and Trademark office, and are available for licensing.

This action adds to the Procurement List products and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List services previously furnished by such agencies.

The Board of Governors is amending appendix A of Regulation CC to delete the reference to the head office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and reassign the Federal Reserve routing symbols currently listed under that office to the Windsor Locks office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. These amendments will ensure that the information in appendix A accurately describes the actual structure of check processing operations within the Federal Reserve System.

GSA proposes a change to the Freight Management Program (FMP), Standard Tender of Service (STOS), to establish a transaction fee for transportation services provided to the Eastern Distribution Center (EDC), Burlington, NJ, Western Distribution Center (WDC), French Camp, CA, and the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH). The proposed transaction fee of 4% of the total transportation charges will be deducted from transportation service provider (TSP) invoices prior to payment via the GSA Transportation Management Services Solution (TMSS).