Agencies and Commissions February 14, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission will consider a Report and Order that protects consumers from unwanted autodialed or prerecorded calls (``robocalls'') by adopting rules that ensure consumers have given prior express consent before receiving robocalls, can easily opt out of further robocalls, and will experience ``abandoned'' telemarketing calls only in strictly limited instances. 2..... Wireless Tele- Title: Amendment of Parts 1 and 22 of the Communications. Commission's Rules With Regard to the Cellular Service, Including Changes in Licensing of Unserved Area (RM 11510); Amendment of the Commission's Rules With Regard to Relocation of Part 24 to Part 27 and Interim Restrictions and Procedures for Cellular Service Applications Summary: The Commission will consider, as part of its ongoing efforts to remove outdated regulations and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order proposing a staged approach to revising the licensing model for the Cellular Service from site-based to geographically-based licensing. The proposal will offer greater flexibility and reduce regulatory requirements, while enabling greater rural deployment of wireless service. The item also includes several other proposals to update the Cellular Service rules, as well as interim procedures for Cellular Service applications. 3..... Public Safety and Title: The Proposed Extension of Part 4 Homeland Security. of the Commission's Rules Regarding Outage Reporting to Interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol Service Providers and Broadband Internet Service Providers (PS Docket No. 11-82) Summary: The Commission will consider a Report and Order to extend outage reporting under Part IV of the rules to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers. Extended reporting will enable the Commission to fulfill statutory E9-1-1 obligations and help protect the growing number of Americans who rely on VOIP phone service.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') extend approval, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, of a collection of information (OMB control number 1212-0030; expires March 31, 2012). This voluntary collection of information is a quarterly survey of insurance company rates for pricing annuity contracts. The American Council of Life Insurers conducts the survey for PBGC. This notice informs the public of PBGC's request and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) is calling for nominations to the Subcommittee on Automated and High Frequency Trading (Subcommittee) under the auspices of the Technology Advisory Committee. The Subcommittee was established to develop recommendations regarding the definition of high frequency trading (HFT) in the context of the larger universe of automated trading. The definition of HFT is anticipated to serve as an initial step towards assessing the presence and impact of HFT in CFTC regulated markets for consideration of appropriate policy responses. The Subcommittee will report to the full Technology Advisory Committee. Developing a common definition of HFT and the characteristics of HFT will help inform the public debate as to the impact of such trading on markets under the jurisdiction of the CFTC. Regulators, markets, market participants, and the public will benefit from a common understanding of the activities and entities involved in HFT. All members of the Subcommittee will participate and consider possible criteria for inclusion in the definition of HFT within the context of automated trading systems (ATS) and suggest specific thresholds for each criterion. Nominations are sought for highly qualified representatives from industry, exchanges, academia, international regulatory and/or advisory bodies, groups representing interests or organizations involved in and/or affected by the development, design, and operation of ATS and HFT, and government agencies. Individuals seeking to be nominated to the Subcommittee should possess demonstrable expertise in a related field or represent a stakeholder of interest in the issue. Prospective nominees should be open to participating in an open public-private forum. Members of the Subcommittee will be appointed by a vote of the Commission as in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. app. 2, and the charter of Technology Advisory Committee.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). 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; (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; and (e) ways to further reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 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 OMB control number.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is amending its rules to conform them to amendments made to the Inspector General Act of 1978 that require the Commission's Inspector General to report to and be under the general supervision of the full Commission.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is implementing a pilot for a Partner Vetting System for USAID assistance and acquisition awards. The purpose of the Partner Vetting System is to help ensure that USAID funds and other resources do not inadvertently benefit individuals or entities that are terrorists, supporters of terrorists or affiliated with terrorists, while also minimizing the impact on USAID programs and its implementing partners. We are amending the USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) regulations in order to apply the Partner Vetting System to USAID acquisitions for the pilot and any subsequent implementation of PVS that is determined appropriate.

The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) proposes to amend its regulations to reflect the restructuring of the Office of Programs and the elimination of the Regional Offices.