Agencies and Commissions December 30, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 12, 2008, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or the ``Commission'') published for public comment in the Federal Register \1\ a proposal to exempt the trading and clearing of certain contracts called ``options'' and other contracts called ``security futures'' on each of iShares[supreg] COMEX Gold Trust Shares (``Gold Products'') and iShares[supreg] Silver Trust Shares (``Silver Products'') (collectively, ``Gold and Silver Products'') from the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') \2\ and the regulations thereunder to the extent necessary to permit them to be traded and cleared as described below. The contracts are proposed to be traded on national securities exchanges (as to options) and designated contract markets registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'') as limited purpose national securities exchanges (as to security futures), and in both cases to be cleared through the Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') in its capacity as a registered securities clearing agency. Authority for this exemption is found in Section 4(c) of the CEA.\3\

The Federal Election Commission (``Commission'') is removing its rules on increased contribution limits and coordinated party expenditure limits for Senate and House of Representatives candidates facing self-financed opponents. These rules were promulgated to implement sections 304 and 319 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, known as the ``Millionaires' Amendment.'' In Davis v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court held that sections 319(a) and (b), regarding House of Representatives elections, were unconstitutional. The Court's analysis also applies to the contribution and spending limits in section 304 regarding Senate elections. The Commission, therefore, is removing its rules that implement the Millionaires' Amendment. However, the Commission is retaining certain other rules that were not affected by the Davis decision. Further information is provided in the supplementary information that follows.

The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc., d/b/a Trinity Broadcasting Network (``Trinity''), the licensee of KTBN-DT, post- transition DTV channel 23, Santa Ana, California. Trinity requests the substitution of DTV channel 33 for post-transition DTV channel 23 at Santa Ana.

This document invites members of the public to comment on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC's or Commission's) rules to be reviewed pursuant to section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA). The purpose of the review is to determine whether Commission rules whose ten-year anniversary dates are in the year 2007, as contained in the Appendix, should be continued without change, amended, or rescinded in order to minimize any significant impact the rules may have on a substantial number of small entities. Upon receipt of comments from the public, the Commission will evaluate those comments and consider whether action should be taken to rescind or amend the relevant rule(s).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') is amending certain provisions of its part 140 regulations to add the Chief Economist and the Deputy Chief Economist of the Office of the Chief Economist as persons to whom certain authorities are delegated. The Commission is also amending part 140 to reflect a change in position title from ``Regional Coordinators'' to ``Regional Administrators.''

The Commission addressed several issues relating to the Commission's Internet-based TRS Order, which adopted a system to assign users of Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), specifically Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet-Protocol (IP) Relay, ten-digit numbers linked to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

This request is being issued as the second for the National Cyber Leap Year under the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI). The goal of the National Cyber Leap Year is to identify the most promising game-changing ideas with the potential to reduce vulnerabilities to cyber exploitations by altering the cybersecurity landscape. The first RFI prompted over 160 responses; indicating a strong interest from the technical community to participate. This RFI-2 expands the opportunities for participation by permitting submitters to designate parts of submissions as proprietary. Continued multidisciplinary contributions from organizations with cybersecurity interests are strongly encouraged. Overview: This Request for Information No. 2 (RFI-2) is the second issued under the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), established within Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-23. RFI-2 was developed by the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program Senior Steering Group (SSG) for Cybersecurity to invite participation in a National Cyber Leap Year whose goal is an integrated national approach to make cyberspace safe for the American way of life. Over 160 responses were submitted to the first RFI issued by the NITRD SSG (October 14, 2008), indicating a strong desire by the technical community to participate. RFI-2 expands the opportunities for participation by permitting submitters to designate parts of submissions as proprietary. Background: We are a cyber nation. The U.S. information infrastructureincluding telecommunications and computer networks and systems and the data that reside on themis critical to virtually every aspect of modern life. This information infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, disruption, and destruction by a growing array of adversaries. The President's CNCI plan calls for leap-ahead research and technology to reduce vulnerabilities to asymmetric attack in cyberspace. Unlike many research agenda that aim for steady progress in the advancement of science, the leap-ahead effort seeks just a few revolutionary ideas with the potential to reshape the landscape. These game-changing technologies (or non- technical mechanisms that are made possible through technology), developed and deployed over the next decade, will fundamentally change the cyber game into one where the good guys have an advantage. Leap- ahead technologies are so-called because they enable us to leap over the obstacles preventing us from being where we want to be. These advances may require years of concerted research and development to be fully realized; good ideas often do. However, the intent is to start now and gain momentum as intermediate results emerge. Objective: The National Cyber Leap Year has two main goals: (1) Constructing a national research and technology agenda that both identifies the most promising ideas and describes the strategy that brings those ideas to fruition; and (2) jumpstarting game-changing, multi-disciplinary development efforts. The Leap Year will run during fiscal year 2009, and will comprise two stages: prospecting and focusing. Stage One canvasses the cybersecurity community for ideas. Our aim is to hear from all those who wish to help. The heart of Stage Two, which begins February 1, 2009, is a series of workshops to explore the best ideas from Stage One. As the year progresses, we will publish four types of findings: (1) Game-changersdescriptions of the paradigm-busters that technology will make possible; (2) Technical Strategyas specifically as possible, the invention and/or research that needs to be done; (3) Productization/Implementationhow the capability will be packaged, delivered, and used, and by whom; and (4) Recommendations prescriptions for success, to include funding, policies, authorities, taskingwhatever would smooth the way to realization of the game- changing capability. Deadline for Submission under this RFI-2: The second round of the Stage One cycle is covered by this RFI-2 and will close February 20, 2009. Subsequent cycles will be announced by separate RFIs. All Stage One cycles are expected to be complete by April 15, 2009.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the purpose of this notice is to announce that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has renewed the charter for the Board of Advisors for a two-year period through December 19, 2010. The Board of Advisors is a federal advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. On September 15, 2008, applicant transferred its assets to BlackRock Global Science & Technology Opportunities Portfolio, a series of BlackRock FundsSM, based on net asset value. Expenses of $487,556 incurred in connection with the reorganization were paid by BlackRock Advisors, LLC, applicant's investment adviser, or its affiliates. Filing Date: The application was filed on November 12, 2008. Applicant's Address: 800 Scudders Mill Rd., Plainsboro, NJ 08536.

The Postal Service proposes to amend its regulations relating to records and information management. The proposed revisions contain, in part, new provisions to comply with Executive Order (EO) 13,392, entitled ``Improving Agency Disclosure of Information.''