Agencies and Commissions June 23, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of June 9, 2011, concerning request for comments on a proposal to extend the Commission's communications outage reporting requirements to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers and broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The document contained incorrect information regarding proposed information collection.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has received a complaint entitled In Re Certain Electric Fireplaces, Components Thereof, Certain Processes for Manufacturing or Relating to Same and Certain Products Containing Same, DN 2821; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Massachusetts (FEMA1994DR), dated 06/15/2011. Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes. Incident Period: 06/01/2011. Effective Date: 06/15/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/15/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 03/15/2012.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Arkansas (FEMA-1975-DR), dated 05/02/2011. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding. Incident Period: 04/14/2011 through 06/03/2011. Effective Date: 06/06/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/01/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 02/02/2012.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Vermont (FEMA- 1995-DR), dated 06/15/2011. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 04/23/2011 through 05/09/2011. Effective Date: 06/15/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/15/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 03/15/2012.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Arkansas (FEMA-1975-DR), dated 05/02/2011 . Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding. Incident Period: 04/14/2011 through 06/03/2011. Effective Date: 06/16/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/01/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 02/02/2012.

The Board is publishing for public comment a proposed rule amending Regulation B (Equal Credit Opportunity). Section 704B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), as added by Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act or Act), requires that financial institutions collect and report information concerning credit applications made by women- or minority- owned businesses and by small businesses. ECOA Section 704B becomes effective on the date that rulemaking authority for ECOA is transferred to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which is July 21, 2011. Although the CFPB will have the authority to issue rules to implement ECOA Section 704B for most entities, the Board retains authority to issue rules for certain motor vehicle dealers. This proposed rule excepts motor vehicle dealers that are subject to the Board's jurisdiction from the requirements of ECOA Section 704B temporarily, until the effective date of final rules that will be issued by the Board to implement that provision.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an interim final regulation amending the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) regulations and also the Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulation (FEHBAR). This interim final regulation replaces the procedure by which premiums for community rated FEHB carriers are compared with the rates charged to a carrier's similarly sized subscriber groups (SSSGs). This new procedure utilizes a medical loss ratio (MLR) threshold, analogous to that defined in both the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Pub. L. 111-148) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) interim final regulation published December 1, 2010 (75 FR 74864). The purpose of this interim final rule is to replace the outdated SSSG methodology with a more modern and transparent calculation while still ensuring that the FEHB is receiving a fair rate. This will result in a more streamlined process for plans and increased competition and plan choice for enrollees. The new process will apply to all community rated plans, except those under traditional community rating (TCR). This new process will be phased in over two years, with optional participation for non-TCR plans in the first year.