Agencies and Commissions October 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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.

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 complaint and the terms of the consent order embodied in the consent agreement that would settle these allegations.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on September 23, 2009, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, California. A letter supplementing the complaint was filed on October 7, 2009. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain inkjet ink supplies and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,959,985; 7,104,630; 6,089,687; and 6,264,301. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337.

NCUA is amending its share insurance rules to: reflect Congress's extension, until December 31, 2013, of the temporary increase in the standard maximum share insurance amount (``SMSIA'') from $100,000 to $250,000; and finalize the interim final rules on revocable trust accounts, mortgage servicing accounts, and NCUA's official sign issued in October 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(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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.

Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective for December 2009. As a result, the following items will remain at their 2009 levels:

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 of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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.

On November 19, 2007, the Federal Election Commission (``Commission'') published a procedural rule making permanent a program allowing respondents in enforcement proceedings under the Federal Election Campaign Act, to have a hearing before the Commission. The Commission is now amending its procedures to provide that the Commissioners may ask questions of the General Counsel and the Staff Director, and their staff, during probable cause hearings. This amendment will conform the procedures for enforcement hearing with the Commission's procedures for audit hearing published earlier this year.

This rule proposes to make changes to the regulations governing the 8(a) Business Development (8(a) BD) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs, and to the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA or Agency) size regulations. Some of the changes involve technical issues such as changing the term ``SIC code'' to ``NAICS code'' to reflect the national conversion to the North American Industry Classification System. Other changes are more substantive and result from SBA's experience in implementing the current regulations. For example, SBA has learned through experience that certain of its rules governing the 8(a) BD program are too restrictive and serve to unfairly preclude firms from being admitted to the program. In other cases, SBA has determined that a rule is too expansive or indefinite and has sought to restrict or clarify that rule. In one case wording changes are being proposed to correct past public or agency misinterpretation. Also, new situations have arisen that were not anticipated when the current rules were drafted and the proposed rule seeks to cover those situations. Finally, one of the changes, involving Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHO's), implements a statutory change.