Agencies and Commissions October 13, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission or SEC) is waiving for one year Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) annual filing fees for all advisers.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts a rule establishing that providers of facilities- based broadband Internet access services and providers of interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) servicesmeaning VoIP service that allows a user generally to receive calls originating from and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network (PSTN)must comply with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). This new rule will enhance public safety and ensure that the surveillance needs of law enforcement agencies continue to be met as Internet-based communications technologies proliferate.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has received a petition (HP 05-1) requesting that the Commission amend the ban on infant pillows to permit the use of such pillows if they are designed, intended and promoted for nursing, and when such pillows are requested by a pediatrician or board certified lactation consultant. The Commission solicits written comments concerning the petition.

In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (e)(11)), we are issuing public notice of our intent to alter an existing system of records entitled the Visitor Intake Process/Customer Service Record (VIP/CSR) System, 60-0350. The proposed alterations will result in the following changes to the VIP/CSR system of records: (1) Expansion of the categories of individuals covered by the VIP/ CSR system of records to include individuals who visit any SSA office or who may contact any SSA office by telephone and/or by e-mail and who attempt or commit a violent act or make threats of violence towards an SSA employee, any individual visiting an SSA office conducting business, or any SSA office; and recording identifying information about the individual within the Visitor Intake Process/Customer Service Record (VIP/CSR) system. (2) Expansion of the categories of records maintained in the VIP/ CSR system of records to include identifying information about the new category of individuals that will be maintained in the VIP/CSR system of records, and a ``High Risk'' alert indicator based on type of threat or act of violence perpetrated by the individual. (3) Expansion of the purposes for which SSA uses information maintained in the VIP/CSR system of records to include use of the system to alert employees in a Social Security office when an individual attempted or committed a violent act or made threats of violence towards an SSA employee, any individual visiting an SSA office conducting business, or any SSA office ; and (4) A proposed new routine use disclosure applicable to information in the VIP/CSR system of records providing for the release of information to law enforcement agencies and private security contractors to protect the safety of SSA employees and customers, the security of the SSA workplace and the operation of SSA facilities, or to assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to activities that affect such safety and security or activities that disrupts the operation of SSA facilities. All of the proposed alterations are discussed in the Supplementary Information section below. We invite public comment on this proposal.

This document contains temporary regulations that lift certain restrictions on financial hardship in-service withdrawals from Federal employees' and uniformed service members' Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts. These temporary regulations are intended to assist TSP participants who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning past performance information. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 45370, August 5, 2005. No comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.