Exploring Industry Practices on Distribution and Display of Airline Fare, Schedule, and Availability Information, 86983 [2020-28927]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2020 / Notices
and there are no costs to respondents
beyond the time spent completing the
questionnaires.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspects of this
information collection, including (a)
whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Department of Transportation, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (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 the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Nanda Narayanan Srinivasan,
Associate Administrator, Research and
Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2020–28904 Filed 12–30–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2016–0204]
Exploring Industry Practices on
Distribution and Display of Airline
Fare, Schedule, and Availability
Information
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of request
for information.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Transportation (‘‘Department’’ or
‘‘DOT’’) is withdrawing a Request for
Information (‘‘RFI’’) that solicited
information on whether airline
restrictions on the distribution or
display of airline flight information
harm consumers and constitute an
unfair and deceptive business practice
and/or an unfair method of competition.
DATES: December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Graber and Blane A. Workie,
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:28 Dec 30, 2020
Jkt 253001
20590, 202–366–9342, 202–366–7152
(fax), kimberly.graber@dot.gov or
blane.workie@dot.gov.
Electronic Access: You can view and
download related documents and public
comments by going to the website
https://www.regulations.gov. Enter the
docket number DOT–OST–2016–0204
in the search field.
The
Department issued the RFI on October
31, 2016 in response to concerns raised
by certain online travel agencies
(OTAs), metasearch entities that operate
flight search tools, and other
stakeholders involved in the
distribution of flight information and
sale of air transportation, as well as
consumer advocates and some members
of Congress regarding certain practices
related to the distribution and display of
airline fare, schedule, and availability
information.1 The Department has also
heard from airlines and other members
of Congress opposing Departmental
action in this area. On December 22,
2016, DOT extended the response date
of the RFI to March 31, 2017.2 On March
10, 2017, the Department suspended the
response period while it evaluated next
steps.3
The issue of airline restrictions on the
distribution or display of airline flight
information on third-party travel
websites is a complex issue with farreaching implications for consumers,
airlines, ticket agents, and the various
participants in the distribution chain.
The Department recognizes that
transparency is not only good for
consumers but also good for
competition in the airline industry.
However, the Department also believes
that airlines should be able to choose
how and where they sell their products
so long as they do not engage in unfair
or deceptive practices. These two goals
are not mutually exclusive. The
Department does not consider its
involvement at this time to be necessary
to prevent unfair, deceptive, or
anticompetitive practices. As such, the
Department has decided to withdraw
the RFI.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.27(n).
Christina G. Aizcorbe,
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020–28927 Filed 12–30–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
FR 75481.
FR 94021.
3 82 FR 13375.
2 81
Frm 00083
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Regional Infrastructure Accelerators
Demonstration Program
Build America Bureau, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity
(NOFO).
AGENCY:
The Fixing America’s Surface
Transportation (FAST) Act, enacted in
December 2015, authorized the
establishment of a Regional
Infrastructure Accelerators
Demonstration Program (the Program) to
assist entities in developing improved
infrastructure priorities and financing
strategies for the accelerated
development of a project that is eligible
for funding under the Transportation
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation
Act (TIFIA) Program under Chapter 6 of
Title 23, United States Code. The
Further Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2020, enacted on December 20,
2019, appropriated $5 million for this
Program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Build
America Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this
NOFO to implement the Program and
solicit applications for designating and
funding Regional Infrastructure
Accelerators (RIA) that will: (1) Serve a
defined geographic area; (2) act as a
resource to qualified entities in the
geographic area in accordance with
Section 1441 of the FAST Act; and (3)
demonstrate the effectiveness of an RIA
to expedite the delivery of eligible
projects through the TIFIA credit
program and, to the extent applicable,
the Railroad Rehabilitation and
Improvement Financing (RRIF) credit
program, Private Activity Bonds (PABs)
and other innovative financing methods.
Each section of this notice contains
information and instructions relevant to
the application process for the RIA
grants. All applicants should read this
notice in its entirety so that they have
the information they need to submit
eligible and competitive applications.
SUMMARY:
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information
A. Program Description
1. Background: The Bureau is
responsible for driving transportation
1 81
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 86983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28927]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2016-0204]
Exploring Industry Practices on Distribution and Display of
Airline Fare, Schedule, and Availability Information
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (``Department'' or ``DOT'')
is withdrawing a Request for Information (``RFI'') that solicited
information on whether airline restrictions on the distribution or
display of airline flight information harm consumers and constitute an
unfair and deceptive business practice and/or an unfair method of
competition.
DATES: December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Graber and Blane A. Workie,
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202-366-
9342, 202-366-7152 (fax), [email protected] or
[email protected].
Electronic Access: You can view and download related documents and
public comments by going to the website https://www.regulations.gov.
Enter the docket number DOT-OST-2016-0204 in the search field.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department issued the RFI on October 31,
2016 in response to concerns raised by certain online travel agencies
(OTAs), metasearch entities that operate flight search tools, and other
stakeholders involved in the distribution of flight information and
sale of air transportation, as well as consumer advocates and some
members of Congress regarding certain practices related to the
distribution and display of airline fare, schedule, and availability
information.\1\ The Department has also heard from airlines and other
members of Congress opposing Departmental action in this area. On
December 22, 2016, DOT extended the response date of the RFI to March
31, 2017.\2\ On March 10, 2017, the Department suspended the response
period while it evaluated next steps.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 81 FR 75481.
\2\ 81 FR 94021.
\3\ 82 FR 13375.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The issue of airline restrictions on the distribution or display of
airline flight information on third-party travel websites is a complex
issue with far-reaching implications for consumers, airlines, ticket
agents, and the various participants in the distribution chain. The
Department recognizes that transparency is not only good for consumers
but also good for competition in the airline industry. However, the
Department also believes that airlines should be able to choose how and
where they sell their products so long as they do not engage in unfair
or deceptive practices. These two goals are not mutually exclusive. The
Department does not consider its involvement at this time to be
necessary to prevent unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices.
As such, the Department has decided to withdraw the RFI.
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.27(n).
Christina G. Aizcorbe,
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-28927 Filed 12-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
