Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties To Reflect Inflation, 2318-2319 [2020-00459]
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2318
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 10 / Wednesday, January 15, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[DA 19–1325; FRS 16392]
Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary
Penalties To Reflect Inflation
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act)
requires the Federal Communications
Commission to amend its forfeiture
penalty rules to reflect annual
adjustments for inflation in order to
improve their effectiveness and
maintain their deterrent effect. The
Inflation Adjustment Act provides that
the new penalty levels shall apply to
penalties assessed after the effective
date of the increase, including when the
penalties whose associated violation
predate the increase.
DATES: The rule is effective January 15,
2020. The civil monetary penalties are
applicable beginning January 15, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa
S. Gelb, Deputy Chief, Enforcement
Bureau, 202–418–2019.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Order,
DA 19–1325, adopted and released on
December 27, 2019. The document is
available for download at https://
www.fcc.gov/document/2019-annualadjustment-civil-monetary-penaltiesreflect-inflation. The complete text of
this document is also available for
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th
SUMMARY:
Street SW, Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC 20554.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
included, as Section 701 thereto, the
Inflation Adjustment Act, which
amended the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub.
L. 101–410), to improve the
effectiveness of civil monetary penalties
and maintain their deterrent effect.
Under the Inflation Adjustment Act,
agencies are required to make annual
inflationary adjustments by January 15
each year, beginning in 2017. The
adjustments are calculated pursuant to
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) guidance. OMB issued guidance
on December 16, 2019, and this Order
follows that guidance. The Commission
therefore updates the civil monetary
penalties for 2020, to reflect an annual
inflation adjustment based on the
percent change between each published
October’s Consumer Price Index for all
Urban Consumers (CPI–U); in this case,
October 2019 CPI–U (257.346)/October
2018 CPI–U (252.885) = 1.01764. The
Commission multiplies 1.01764 by the
most recent penalty amount and then
rounds the result to the nearest dollar.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document does not contain new
or modified information collection
requirements subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public
Law 104–13. It does not contain any
new or modified information collection
burden for small business concerns with
fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to
the Small Business Paperwork Relief
Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
Congressional Review Act
The Commission has determined, and
the Administrator of the Office of
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Violation
202(c) Common Carrier Discrimination ...........................................
203(e) Common Carrier Tariffs ........................................................
205(b) Common Carrier Prescriptions .............................................
214(d) Common Carrier Line Extensions ........................................
219(b) Common Carrier Reports .....................................................
220(d) Common Carrier Records & Accounts .................................
223(b) Dial-a-Porn ............................................................................
227(e) Caller Identification ...............................................................
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
364(a) Forfeitures (Ships) ................................................................
364(b) Forfeitures (Ships) ................................................................
386(a) Forfeitures (Ships). ...............................................................
386(b) Forfeitures (Ships) ................................................................
634 Cable EEO ................................................................................
(9) Inflation adjustments to the
maximum forfeiture amount. (i)
Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
16:02 Jan 14, 2020
Jkt 250001
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Administrative practice and
procedure, Penalties.
Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Gelb,
Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau.
Final Rules
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission amends 47 CFR part 1 as
follows:
PART 1—PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURE
1. The authority citation for part 1
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28
U.S.C. 2461 note, unless otherwise noted.
2. Section 1.80 is amended by revising
the table in Section III of the note to
paragraph (b)(8) and paragraph (b)(9) to
read as follows:
■
§ 1.80
*
Forfeiture proceedings.
*
*
(b) * * *
(8) * * *
*
*
Section III. Non-Section 503 Forfeitures
That Are Affected by the Downward
Adjustment Factors
*
*
*
*
*
Statutory amount after 2020 annual inflation adjustment
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
concurs that this rule is non-major
under the Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 804(2). The Commission will
send a copy of this Order to Congress
and the Government Accountability
Office pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
$12,294, $615/day.
$12,294, $615/day.
$24,586
$2,458/day.
2,458/day.
$12,294/day.
$127,398/day.
$11,766/violation. $35,298/day for each day of continuing violation, up
to $1,176,638 for any single act or failure to act.
$10,245/day (owner).
$2,050 (vessel master).
$10,245/day (owner).
$2,050 (vessel master).
$908/day.
Act of 2015, Public Law 114–74 (129
Stat. 599–600), which amends the
Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990, Public Law
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
101–410 (104 Stat. 890; 28 U.S.C. 2461
note), the statutory maximum amount of
a forfeiture penalty assessed under this
section shall be adjusted annually for
E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM
15JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 10 / Wednesday, January 15, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
inflation by order published no later
than January 15 each year. Annual
inflation adjustments will be based on
the percentage (if any) by which the
Consumer Price Index for all Urban
Consumers (CPI–U) for October
preceding the date of the adjustment
exceeds the prior year’s CPI–U for
October. The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) will issue adjustment rate
guidance no later than December 15
each year to adjust for inflation in the
CPI–U as of the most recent October.
2319
(ii) The application of the annual
inflation adjustment required by the
foregoing Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements
Act of 2015 results in the following
adjusted statutory maximum forfeitures
authorized by the Communications Act:
TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(9)(ii)
Maximum penalty
after 2020 annual
inflation adjustment
U.S. Code citation
47 U.S.C. 202(c) ..................................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 203(e) ..................................................................................................................................................................
47
47
47
47
47
47
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
205(b)
214(d)
219(b)
220(d)
223(b)
227(e)
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
47
47
47
47
47
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
U.S.C.
362(a) ..................................................................................................................................................................
362(b) ..................................................................................................................................................................
386(a) ..................................................................................................................................................................
386(b) ..................................................................................................................................................................
503(b)(2)(A) ........................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(B) ........................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(C) ........................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(D) ........................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(F) .........................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 507(a) ..................................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 507(b) ..................................................................................................................................................................
47 U.S.C. 554 ......................................................................................................................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD
49 CFR Part 831
[Docket No.: NTSB–GC–2020–0001]
RIN 3147–AA22
Civil Monetary Penalty Annual Inflation
Adjustment
National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015, this final
rule provides the 2020 adjustment to the
civil penalties that the agency may
assess against a person for violating
certain NTSB statutes and regulations.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:02 Jan 14, 2020
This final rule is effective on
January 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES: A copy of this final rule,
published in the Federal Register (FR),
is available for inspection and copying
in the NTSB’s public reading room,
located at 490 L’Enfant Plaza SW,
Washington, DC 20594–2003.
Alternatively, a copy is available on the
government-wide website on regulations
at https://www.regulations.gov (Docket
ID Number NTSB–GC–2020–0001).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathleen Silbaugh, General Counsel,
(202) 314–6080 or rulemaking@ntsb.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
[FR Doc. 2020–00459 Filed 1–14–20; 8:45 am]
Jkt 250001
I. Background
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act Improvements Act of
2015 (the 2015 Act) requires, in
pertinent part, agencies to make an
annual adjustment for inflation by
January 15th every year. OMB, M–16–
06, Implementation of the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
$12,294
615
12,294
615
24,586
2,458
2,458
12,294
127,398
11,766
35,298
1,176,638
10,245
2,050
10,245
2,050
51,222
512,228
204,892
2,048,915
414,454
3,825,726
20,489
153,669
117,664
1,176,638
2,029
297
908
Improvements Act of 2015 (Feb. 24,
2016). The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) annually publishes
guidance on the adjustment multiplier
to assist agencies in calculating the
mandatory annual adjustments for
inflation.
The NTSB’s most recent adjustment
was for fiscal year (FY) 2019, allowing
the agency to impose a civil penalty up
to $1,692, effective August 30, 2019, on
a person who violates 49 U.S.C. 1132
(Civil aircraft accident investigations),
1134(b) (Inspection, testing,
preservation, and moving of aircraft and
parts), 1134(f)(1) (Autopsies), or 1136(g)
(Prohibited actions when providing
assistance to families of passengers
involved in aircraft accidents). Civil
Monetary Penalty Annual Inflation
Adjustment, 94 FR 45686 (Aug. 30,
2019).
OMB has since published updated
guidance for FY 2020. OMB, M–20–05,
Implementation of Penalty Inflation
Adjustments for 2020, Pursuant to the
Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM
15JAR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2318-2319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00459]
[[Page 2318]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[DA 19-1325; FRS 16392]
Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties To Reflect
Inflation
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act) requires the
Federal Communications Commission to amend its forfeiture penalty rules
to reflect annual adjustments for inflation in order to improve their
effectiveness and maintain their deterrent effect. The Inflation
Adjustment Act provides that the new penalty levels shall apply to
penalties assessed after the effective date of the increase, including
when the penalties whose associated violation predate the increase.
DATES: The rule is effective January 15, 2020. The civil monetary
penalties are applicable beginning January 15, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa S. Gelb, Deputy Chief,
Enforcement Bureau, 202-418-2019.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order,
DA 19-1325, adopted and released on December 27, 2019. The document is
available for download at https://www.fcc.gov/document/2019-annual-adjustment-civil-monetary-penalties-reflect-inflation. The complete
text of this document is also available for inspection and copying
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center,
Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 included, as Section 701 thereto,
the Inflation Adjustment Act, which amended the Federal Civil Penalties
Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-410), to improve the
effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and maintain their deterrent
effect. Under the Inflation Adjustment Act, agencies are required to
make annual inflationary adjustments by January 15 each year, beginning
in 2017. The adjustments are calculated pursuant to Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. OMB issued guidance on December
16, 2019, and this Order follows that guidance. The Commission
therefore updates the civil monetary penalties for 2020, to reflect an
annual inflation adjustment based on the percent change between each
published October's Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-
U); in this case, October 2019 CPI-U (257.346)/October 2018 CPI-U
(252.885) = 1.01764. The Commission multiplies 1.01764 by the most
recent penalty amount and then rounds the result to the nearest dollar.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document does not contain new or modified information
collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Public Law 104-13. It does not contain any new or modified
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
Congressional Review Act
The Commission has determined, and the Administrator of the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
concurs that this rule is non-major under the Congressional Review Act,
5 U.S.C. 804(2). The Commission will send a copy of this Order to
Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A).
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 1
Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties.
Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Gelb,
Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau.
Final Rules
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 1 as follows:
PART 1--PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
0
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note,
unless otherwise noted.
0
2. Section 1.80 is amended by revising the table in Section III of the
note to paragraph (b)(8) and paragraph (b)(9) to read as follows:
Sec. 1.80 Forfeiture proceedings.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(8) * * *
Section III. Non-Section 503 Forfeitures That Are Affected by the
Downward Adjustment Factors
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statutory amount after 2020
Violation annual inflation adjustment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 202(c) Common Carrier $12,294, $615/day.
Discrimination.
Sec. 203(e) Common Carrier Tariffs..... $12,294, $615/day.
Sec. 205(b) Common Carrier $24,586
Prescriptions.
Sec. 214(d) Common Carrier Line $2,458/day.
Extensions.
Sec. 219(b) Common Carrier Reports..... 2,458/day.
Sec. 220(d) Common Carrier Records & $12,294/day.
Accounts.
Sec. 223(b) Dial-a-Porn................ $127,398/day.
Sec. 227(e) Caller Identification...... $11,766/violation. $35,298/day
for each day of continuing
violation, up to $1,176,638
for any single act or failure
to act.
Sec. 364(a) Forfeitures (Ships)........ $10,245/day (owner).
Sec. 364(b) Forfeitures (Ships)........ $2,050 (vessel master).
Sec. 386(a) Forfeitures (Ships)........ $10,245/day (owner).
Sec. 386(b) Forfeitures (Ships)........ $2,050 (vessel master).
Sec. 634 Cable EEO..................... $908/day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Inflation adjustments to the maximum forfeiture amount. (i)
Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74 (129 Stat. 599-600), which
amends the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Act of
1990, Public Law 101-410 (104 Stat. 890; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note), the
statutory maximum amount of a forfeiture penalty assessed under this
section shall be adjusted annually for
[[Page 2319]]
inflation by order published no later than January 15 each year. Annual
inflation adjustments will be based on the percentage (if any) by which
the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for October
preceding the date of the adjustment exceeds the prior year's CPI-U for
October. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will issue
adjustment rate guidance no later than December 15 each year to adjust
for inflation in the CPI-U as of the most recent October.
(ii) The application of the annual inflation adjustment required by
the foregoing Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of 2015 results in the following adjusted statutory
maximum forfeitures authorized by the Communications Act:
Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(9)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum penalty after
U.S. Code citation 2020 annual inflation
adjustment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
47 U.S.C. 202(c)............................... $12,294
615
47 U.S.C. 203(e)............................... 12,294
615
47 U.S.C. 205(b)............................... 24,586
47 U.S.C. 214(d)............................... 2,458
47 U.S.C. 219(b)............................... 2,458
47 U.S.C. 220(d)............................... 12,294
47 U.S.C. 223(b)............................... 127,398
47 U.S.C. 227(e)............................... 11,766
35,298
1,176,638
47 U.S.C. 362(a)............................... 10,245
47 U.S.C. 362(b)............................... 2,050
47 U.S.C. 386(a)............................... 10,245
47 U.S.C. 386(b)............................... 2,050
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(A)......................... 51,222
512,228
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(B)......................... 204,892
2,048,915
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(C)......................... 414,454
3,825,726
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(D)......................... 20,489
153,669
47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)(F)......................... 117,664
1,176,638
47 U.S.C. 507(a)............................... 2,029
47 U.S.C. 507(b)............................... 297
47 U.S.C. 554.................................. 908
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-00459 Filed 1-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
