Request for Comments Concerning Compliance With Telecommunications Trade Agreements, 71707-71708 [E8-27909]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 25, 2008 / Notices
A full analysis of the rates is posted
at the DoD’s Uniform Business Office
Web Site: https://www.tricare.mil/ocfo/
_docs/SIGNED%20Med%20Den%
Reimburse%20Rates%20and%
Cosmetic%20Surgery%205%
2030%2008.pdf. The rates can be found
at: https://www.tricare.mil/ocfo/mcfs/
ubo/mhs_rates.cfm.
Jim Nussle,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8–27905 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110–01–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments Concerning
Compliance With Telecommunications
Trade Agreements
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of request for public
comment and reply comment.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 1377 of
the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C.
3106) (‘‘section 1377’’), the Office of the
United States Trade Representative
(‘‘USTR’’) is reviewing and requests
comments on: The operation,
effectiveness, and implementation of
and compliance with the following
agreements regarding
telecommunications products and
services of the United States: the World
Trade Organization (‘‘WTO’’) General
Agreement on Trade in Services; the
North American Free Trade Agreement
(‘‘NAFTA’’); U.S. free trade agreements
(‘‘FTAs’’) with Australia, Bahrain, Chile,
Morocco, and Singapore; the Dominican
Republic-Central America-United States
Free Trade Agreement (‘‘CAFTA–DR’’);
and any other FTA or
telecommunications trade agreement
coming into force on or before January
1, 2009. The USTR will conclude the
review by March 31, 2009.
DATES: Comments are due by noon on
December 12, 2008 and reply comments
by noon on January 16, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Gloria Blue, Executive
Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee,
ATTN: Section 1377 Comments, Office
of the United States Trade
Representative, 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20508.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Hinckley, Office of Services
and Investment (202) 395–9539; or Amy
Karpel, Office of the General Counsel
(202) 395–3150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
1377 requires the USTR to review
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:01 Nov 24, 2008
Jkt 217001
annually the operations and
effectiveness of all U.S. trade
agreements regarding
telecommunications products and
services of the United States that are in
force with respect to the United States.
The purpose of the review is to
determine whether any act, policy, or
practice of a country that has entered
into an FTA or other
telecommunications trade agreement
with the United States is inconsistent
with the terms of such agreement or
otherwise denies U.S. firms, within the
context of the terms of such agreements,
mutually advantageous market
opportunities for telecommunications
products and services. For the current
review, the USTR seeks comments on:
(1) Whether any WTO member is
acting in a manner that is inconsistent
with its obligations under WTO
agreements affecting market
opportunities for telecommunications
products or services, e.g., the WTO
General Agreement on Trade in Services
(‘‘GATS’’), including the Basic
Telecommunications Agreement, the
Annex on Telecommunications, and any
scheduled commitments including the
Reference Paper on Pro-Competitive
Regulatory Principles;
(2) Whether Canada or Mexico has
failed to comply with its
telecommunications obligations under
the NAFTA;
(3) Whether El Salvador, the
Dominican Republic, Guatemala,
Honduras or Nicaragua has failed to
comply with its telecommunications
obligations under the CAFTA–DR;
(4) Whether Australia, Bahrain, Chile,
Morocco, Singapore, or any other
country for which an FTA with the
United States will be in force on or
before January 1, 2009, has failed to
comply with its telecommunications
obligations under the respective FTA
between the United States and that
country (see https://www.ustr.gov/
Trade_Agreements/Section_Index.html
for U.S. FTAs);
(5) Whether any country has failed to
comply with its obligations under
telecommunications trade agreements
with the United States other than FTAs,
e.g., Mutual Recognition Agreements
(MRAs) for Conformity Assessment of
Telecommunications Equipment (see
https://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov for a
collection of trade agreements related,
inter alia, to telecommunications);
(6) In regard to issues listed in items
(1) to (5) or item (7), also consider
whether a country employs a legal
standard for granting injunctions with
respect to regulatory decisions that is so
lenient that it undermines the country’s
ability to ensure compliance with its
PO 00000
Frm 00108
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
71707
specific obligations under telecom trade
agreements;
(7) Whether any act, policy, or
practice of a country cited in a previous
section 1377 review remains unresolved
(see https://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Sectors/
Telecom-E-commerce/Section_1377/
Section_Index.html for the 2008
review); and
(8) Whether any measures or practices
impede access to telecommunications
markets or otherwise deny
telecommunications products and
services of the United States market
opportunities with respect to any
country that is a WTO member or for
which an FTA or telecommunications
trade agreement has entered into force
between such country and the United
States. Measures or practices of interest
include, for example, prohibitions on
voice over Internet protocol (VOIP)
services; requirements for access or use
of networks that limit the products or
services U.S. suppliers can offer in
specific markets; the imposition of
excessively high licensing fees, and the
imposition of unnecessary or
discriminatory technical regulations or
standards in the telecom product or
services sectors.
Public Comment and Reply Comment:
Requirements for Submission
All comments must be in English,
must identify (on the first page of the
comments) the telecommunications
trade agreement(s) discussed therein,
and must be submitted by noon on
December 12, 2008. Reply comments
must also be in English and must be
submitted by noon on January 16, 2009.
Reply comments should only address
issues raised by the comments.
In order to ensure the most timely and
expeditious receipt and consideration of
comments and reply comments, USTR
has arranged to accept on-line
submissions via www.regulations.gov.
To submit comments enter docket
number USTR–2008–0039 on the home
page and click ‘‘go’’. The site will
provide a search-results page listing all
documents associated with this docket.
Find a reference to this notice by
selecting ‘‘Notice’’ under ‘‘Document
Type’’ on the left side of the searchresults page, and click on the link
entitled ‘‘Send a Comment or
Submission.’’ (For further information
on using the https://
www.regulations.gov/ Web site, please
consult the resources provided on the
Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to Use
This Site’’ on the left side of the home
page. We expect that most comments
will be provided in an attached
document. If a document is attached, it
is sufficient to type ‘‘see attached’’ in
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
25NON1
71708
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 25, 2008 / Notices
the general comments field.
Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) are preferred. If an
application other than those two is
used, please identify in your submission
the specific application used. For any
comments submitted electronically
containing business confidential
information, the file name of the
business confidential version should
begin with the characters ‘‘BC’’. Any
page containing business confidential
information must be clearly marked
‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ on the
top of that page. Filers of submissions
containing business confidential
information should also attach a public
version of their comments. The file
name of the public version should begin
with the character ‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and
‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of
the person or entity submitting the
comments or reply comments. Filers
submitting comments containing no
business confidential information
should name their file using the
character ‘‘P’’, followed by the name of
the person or entity submitting the
comments or reply comments.
Electronic submissions should not
contain separate cover letters; rather,
information that might appear in a cover
letter should be included in the
submission itself. Similarly, to the
extent possible, any attachments to a
submission should be included in the
same file as the submission itself and
not as separate files. All nonconfidential comments and reply
comments may be viewed at https://
www.regualtions.gov by entering Docket
# USTR–2008–0039 in the search field.
We strongly urge submitters to avail
themselves of the electronic filing, if at
all possible. If an electronic submission
is impossible, alternative arrangements
must be made with Ms. Blue prior to
delivery of such submissions. Ms. Blue
should be contacted at (202) 395–3475.
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. E8–27909 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W9–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available
From: U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Investor
Education and Advocacy,
Washington, DC 20549–0213
Extension:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
Rule 15c1–5, OMB Control No. 3235–0471,
SEC File No. 270–422.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget a
request for approval of extension of the
existing collection of information
provided for in the following rule: Rule
15c1–5 (17 CFR 240.15c1–5) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (‘‘Exchange Act’’).
Rule 15c1–5 states that any brokerdealer controlled by, controlling, or
under common control with the issuer
of a security that the broker-dealer is
trying to sell to or buy from a customer
must give the customer written
notification disclosing the control
relationship at or before completion of
the transaction. The Commission
estimates that 278 respondents collect
information annually under Rule 15c1–
5 and that approximately each
respondent would spend 10 hours per
year collecting this information (2,780
hours in aggregate). There is no
retention period requirement under
Rule 15c1–5. This Rule does not involve
the collection of confidential
information.
Written comments are invited on: (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
estimates of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to
comments and suggestions submitted in
writing within 60 days of this
publication.
Comments should be directed to
Lewis W. Walker, Acting Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley
Martinson, 6432 General Green Way,
Alexandria, VA 22312 or send an e-mail
to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: November 19, 2008.
Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–27986 Filed 11–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
17:01 Nov 24, 2008
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00109
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available
From: U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of Investor
Education and Advocacy,
Washington, DC 20549–0213.
Extension:
Rule 15c1–6 , OMB Control No. 3235–
0472, SEC File No. 270–423.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget a
request for approval of extension of the
existing collection of information
provided for in the following rule: Rule
15c1–6 (17 CFR 240.15c1–6) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (‘‘Exchange Act’’).
Rule 15c1–6 states that any brokerdealer trying to sell to or buy from a
customer a security in a primary or
secondary distribution in which the
broker-dealer is participating or is
otherwise financially interested must
give the customer written notification of
the broker-dealer’s participation or
interest at or before completion of the
transaction. The Commission estimates
that 556 respondents collect information
annually under Rule 15c1–6 and that
each respondent would spend
approximately 10 hours annually
complying with the collection of
information requirement (approximately
5,560 hours in aggregate).
Written comments are invited on: (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
estimates of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to
comments and suggestions submitted in
writing within 60 days of this
publication.
Comments should be directed to
Lewis W. Walker, Acting Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley
Martinson, 6432 General Green Way,
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
25NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71707-71708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27909]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments Concerning Compliance With
Telecommunications Trade Agreements
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and reply comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 3106) (``section 1377''), the
Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is
reviewing and requests comments on: The operation, effectiveness, and
implementation of and compliance with the following agreements
regarding telecommunications products and services of the United
States: the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') General Agreement on
Trade in Services; the North American Free Trade Agreement (``NAFTA'');
U.S. free trade agreements (``FTAs'') with Australia, Bahrain, Chile,
Morocco, and Singapore; the Dominican Republic-Central America-United
States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR''); and any other FTA or
telecommunications trade agreement coming into force on or before
January 1, 2009. The USTR will conclude the review by March 31, 2009.
DATES: Comments are due by noon on December 12, 2008 and reply comments
by noon on January 16, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff
Committee, ATTN: Section 1377 Comments, Office of the United States
Trade Representative, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Hinckley, Office of Services
and Investment (202) 395-9539; or Amy Karpel, Office of the General
Counsel (202) 395-3150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1377 requires the USTR to review
annually the operations and effectiveness of all U.S. trade agreements
regarding telecommunications products and services of the United States
that are in force with respect to the United States. The purpose of the
review is to determine whether any act, policy, or practice of a
country that has entered into an FTA or other telecommunications trade
agreement with the United States is inconsistent with the terms of such
agreement or otherwise denies U.S. firms, within the context of the
terms of such agreements, mutually advantageous market opportunities
for telecommunications products and services. For the current review,
the USTR seeks comments on:
(1) Whether any WTO member is acting in a manner that is
inconsistent with its obligations under WTO agreements affecting market
opportunities for telecommunications products or services, e.g., the
WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (``GATS''), including the
Basic Telecommunications Agreement, the Annex on Telecommunications,
and any scheduled commitments including the Reference Paper on Pro-
Competitive Regulatory Principles;
(2) Whether Canada or Mexico has failed to comply with its
telecommunications obligations under the NAFTA;
(3) Whether El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala,
Honduras or Nicaragua has failed to comply with its telecommunications
obligations under the CAFTA-DR;
(4) Whether Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Morocco, Singapore, or any
other country for which an FTA with the United States will be in force
on or before January 1, 2009, has failed to comply with its
telecommunications obligations under the respective FTA between the
United States and that country (see https://www.ustr.gov/Trade_
Agreements/Section_Index.html for U.S. FTAs);
(5) Whether any country has failed to comply with its obligations
under telecommunications trade agreements with the United States other
than FTAs, e.g., Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for Conformity
Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (see https://
www.tcc.mac.doc.gov for a collection of trade agreements related, inter
alia, to telecommunications);
(6) In regard to issues listed in items (1) to (5) or item (7),
also consider whether a country employs a legal standard for granting
injunctions with respect to regulatory decisions that is so lenient
that it undermines the country's ability to ensure compliance with its
specific obligations under telecom trade agreements;
(7) Whether any act, policy, or practice of a country cited in a
previous section 1377 review remains unresolved (see https://
www.ustr.gov/Trade_Sectors/Telecom-E-commerce/Section_1377/Section_
Index.html for the 2008 review); and
(8) Whether any measures or practices impede access to
telecommunications markets or otherwise deny telecommunications
products and services of the United States market opportunities with
respect to any country that is a WTO member or for which an FTA or
telecommunications trade agreement has entered into force between such
country and the United States. Measures or practices of interest
include, for example, prohibitions on voice over Internet protocol
(VOIP) services; requirements for access or use of networks that limit
the products or services U.S. suppliers can offer in specific markets;
the imposition of excessively high licensing fees, and the imposition
of unnecessary or discriminatory technical regulations or standards in
the telecom product or services sectors.
Public Comment and Reply Comment: Requirements for Submission
All comments must be in English, must identify (on the first page
of the comments) the telecommunications trade agreement(s) discussed
therein, and must be submitted by noon on December 12, 2008. Reply
comments must also be in English and must be submitted by noon on
January 16, 2009. Reply comments should only address issues raised by
the comments.
In order to ensure the most timely and expeditious receipt and
consideration of comments and reply comments, USTR has arranged to
accept on-line submissions via www.regulations.gov. To submit comments
enter docket number USTR-2008-0039 on the home page and click ``go''.
The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents
associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by
selecting ``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' on the left side of the
search-results page, and click on the link entitled ``Send a Comment or
Submission.'' (For further information on using the https://
www.regulations.gov/ Web site, please consult the resources provided on
the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This Site'' on the left side
of the home page. We expect that most comments will be provided in an
attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type
``see attached'' in
[[Page 71708]]
the general comments field. Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) are preferred. If an application other than those
two is used, please identify in your submission the specific
application used. For any comments submitted electronically containing
business confidential information, the file name of the business
confidential version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page
containing business confidential information must be clearly marked
``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of
submissions containing business confidential information should also
attach a public version of their comments. The file name of the public
version should begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P''
should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the
comments or reply comments. Filers submitting comments containing no
business confidential information should name their file using the
character ``P'', followed by the name of the person or entity
submitting the comments or reply comments. Electronic submissions
should not contain separate cover letters; rather, information that
might appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission
itself. Similarly, to the extent possible, any attachments to a
submission should be included in the same file as the submission itself
and not as separate files. All non-confidential comments and reply
comments may be viewed at https://www.regualtions.gov by entering Docket
USTR-2008-0039 in the search field.
We strongly urge submitters to avail themselves of the electronic
filing, if at all possible. If an electronic submission is impossible,
alternative arrangements must be made with Ms. Blue prior to delivery
of such submissions. Ms. Blue should be contacted at (202) 395-3475.
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. E8-27909 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W9-P
