Agencies and Commissions February 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission adopted rules extending local number portability obligations and numbering administration support obligations to interconnected VoIP services and responded to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals stay of the Commission's Intermodal Number Portability Order.

Following receipt of a letter dated January 29, 2008, from the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate (Committee) delaying the date for transmitting its report in investigation No. 332-488, Global Beef Trade: Effects of Animal Health, Sanitary, Food Safety, and Other Measures on U.S. Beef Exports, the Commission extended the time for filing written submissions in the investigation to May 6, 2008, and extended the time for transmitting its report to September 8, 2008. January 30, 2008: Receipt of letter from the Committee. May 6, 2008: New deadline for filing written submissions. September 8, 2008: New date for transmitting the Commission's report to the Committee. Background: In its original request, the Committee asked that the Commission provide its report in the investigation by June 6, 2008. In its January 29, 2008, letter the Committee extended the time for providing the report to September 8, 2008. Following receipt of the Committee's letter, the Commission adjusted its internal work schedule and also extended the deadline for filing written submissions relating to the investigation from February 29, 2008, to May 6, 2008. The Commission published notice of institution of the investigation in the Federal Register on September 19, 2007 (72 FR 53603). The notice is also available on the Commission Web site at https://www.usitc.gov. All other information about the investigation, including a description of the subject matter to be addressed, contact information, procedures for filing written submissions, and Commission addresses, remains the same as in the original notice. The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at: https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain composite fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities.

The Commission is conducting a formal review of the Postal Service's planned rate adjustments for essentially all products in the market dominant category, which includes the First-Class stamp, and limited classification revisions. The adjustments are based on a statutory price cap. A public comment period extends through March 3, 2008. This will be followed by a Commission determination on the consistency of the adjustments with certain considerations. The new rates and the classification revisions are expected to take effect May 12, 2008.

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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 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.

This proposed rule would amend PBGC's regulation on Annual Financial and Actuarial Information Reporting to implement the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280 (``PPA 2006''), which changed the standards for determining which persons are required to report under ERISA section 4010 (Authority to Require Certain Information) and made other changes to the reporting requirements. In addition to providing proposed guidance on implementing the PPA 2006 changes, PBGC is proposing to waive reporting in certain cases for controlled groups with aggregate plan underfunding of $15 million or less, to modify the standards for determining which plans are exempted from the actuarial information requirements, to revise the actuarial information requirements to conform with other PPA 2006 changes, and to provide other clarifications.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is announcing the availability of NUREG-1614, Volume 4, ``U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, FY 2008-2013 Strategic Plan,'' dated February, 21, 2008.

The Postal Service will adopt new mailing standards and prices for First-Class Mail International service on May 12, 2008, which reflects current First-Class Mail domestic shape-based standards. Our revisions recognize that each mailpiece shapeletter, flat, and parcelhas substantially different processing costs that needs to be covered. Currently, the First-Class Mail International pricing structure does not have a distinction between letter-size, flat-size, and package (small packet) pricing.

In this document, the Commission seeks public comment on state applications for renewal of the certification of their state TRS programs pursuant to Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) revises portions of its regulations regarding unfair labor practice (ULP) proceedings (Part 2423, subpart A). The purpose of the revisions is to clarify the Office of the General Counsel's (OGC) role during the investigatory stage of processing ULP charges consistent with the policies of the General Counsel, and to clarify certain administrative matters relating to the filing and investigation of ULP charges. Implementation of the final rule confirms and enhances the neutrality of the OGC before a ULP merit determination is made and returns the OGC to its core mission.