Agencies and Commissions June 19, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is publishing a final rule establishing a lower basic registration fee of $35 for copyright claims submitted electronically. This fee applies to all registrations where the application is submitted electronically, including those registrations where the deposit materials cannot be sent electronically together with the application. At the same time, the Office is retaining its current fee of $45 for processing paper applications for basic copyright registration of a copyright claim. The dual fee structure reflects the reduced cost of processing electronic claims and serves as an incentive to the public to utilize the new online, electronic registration system. On or after July 1, 2007, the Copyright Office will begin accepting a limited number of electronic submissions of copyright claims through the Internet and the new fee will apply to these applications. The adoption of the new rule assumes that no legislative action will take place before July 1, 2007.

After considering the request of the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding the formation of a victims advisory group, the United States Sentencing Commission has decided to establish a standing victims advisory group pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 995 and Rule 5.4 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. The purpose of the advisory group is (1) to assist the Commission in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under 28 U.S.C. 994(o); (2) to provide the Commission its views on the Commission's activities as they relate to victims of crime; (3) to disseminate information regarding sentencing issues to organizations represented by the advisory group and to other victims of crime and victims advocacy groups, as appropriate; and (4) to perform any other functions related to victims of crime as the Commission requests. The Commission anticipates that the victims advisory group will consist of not more than 9 members, each of whom may serve not more than two consecutive 3-year terms. The Commission also anticipates establishing a charter for the victims advisory group to govern the group's activities. The Commission hereby requests comment on the potential membership of the victims advisory group. The Commission also invites any person or group who has knowledge, expertise, or experience in the area of federal crime victimization to apply to become a member of the advisory group. Requests to be considered for the initial membership of the victims advisory group must be received by the Commission not later than July 30, 2007. Applications may be sent to Michael Courlander at the address listed below. The Commission also hereby gives notice of a proposed amendment to its Rules of Practice and Procedure, at Rule 5.4, to include the victims advisory group as a standing advisory group of the Commission.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Small Business Administration's intentions to request approval on a new and/or currently approved information collection.

The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is issuing a final regulation that is substantially the same as the proposed rule to clarify the types of financial interests an appointive Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) director may maintain in a member of the Bank on whose board the director serves. The changes broaden the scope of financial interests an appointive director may have with a holding company that controls one or more members.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), agencies are required to publish a Notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the Agency has prepared an information collection request for OMB review and approval and has requested public review and comment on the submission. Comments are being solicited on the need for the information; the accuracy of the Agency's burden estimate; the quality, practical utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and on ways to minimize the reporting burden, including automated collection techniques and uses of other forms of technology. The proposed form under review, OMB control number 3420-0015, is summarized below.