Agencies and Commissions March 29, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document proposes to modify the Commission's rules to allow Economic Area (EA)-based 800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) licensees to exceed a channel spacing and bandwidth limitation, subject to two conditions. The Commission proposes to allow licensees to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation in the 813.5-824/858.5-869 MHz band in National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) regions where 800 MHz public safety licensee reconfiguration is complete. In areas where 800 MHz public safety reconfiguration is incomplete, EA-based 800 MHz licensees would only be allowed to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation in the 813.5-821/858.5-866 MHz band. Further, the Commission proposes to require any EA-based 800 MHz SMR licensee that intends to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation of its rules, which govern the above-listed MHz bands, to provide 30 days written notice to public safety licensees with base stations in the NPSPAC region and within 113 kilometers (70 miles) of the affected NPSPAC region. The Commission seeks comment on any additional steps that may need to be taken to protect 800 MHz public safety licensees against any possible increased interference. The proposed rule changes would allow geographic-based 800 MHz SMR licensees the flexibility to deploy new technologies and to better utilize their licensed spectrum, while also protecting 800 MHz public safety entities.

Following receipt of a request on March 22, 2012, from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by the President and pursuant to section 104 of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the Commission instituted investigation No. Korea FTA-103-026, Effect of Adding References to HS 6104.32 To Correct the U.S.-Korea FTA Product- Specific Rules of Origin.

As part of its regular business meeting held on March 15, 2012, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Commission took the following actions: (1) Reconsidered certain actions taken at its December 15, 2011, public hearing; (2) upon reconsideration, approved or denied the applications of certain water resources projects, originally considered at the December 15, 2011, public hearing; (3) rescinded approval for one additional water resources project; (4) approved, tabled or denied the applications of certain additional water resources projects; and (5) took additional actions as set forth in the Supplementary Information below.

Summary of the Application: Applicants request an order to exempt a limited liability company formed for the benefit of eligible employees of Jefferies Group, Inc. and its affiliates from certain provisions of the Act. The limited liability company is an ``employees' securities company'' within the meaning of section 2(a)(13) of the Act.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') is announcing a teleconference and the seventh meeting of the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on phthalates and phthalate substitutes. The Commission appointed this CHAP on April 14, 2010, to study the effects on children's health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives, as used in children's toys and child care articles, pursuant to section 108 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (Pub. L. 110-314). The CHAP will discuss its progress toward completing its analysis of potential risks from phthalates and phthalate substitutes.