Agencies and Commissions April 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has established an advisory committee to advise the Board on issues related to the accessibility of courthouses covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. The Courthouse Access Advisory Committee (Committee) includes organizations with an interest in courthouse accessibility. This notice announces the date, times and location of the next Committee meeting, which will be open to the public.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold a series of public Hearings to explore how best to identify anticompetitive exclusionary conduct for purposes of antitrust enforcement under section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. 2. Among other things, the Hearings will examine whether and when specific types of conduct that potentially implicate section 2 are procompetitive or benign, and when they may harm competition and consumer welfare. The Agencies expect to focus on legal doctrines and jurisprudence, economic research, and business and consumer experiences. To begin, the Agencies are soliciting public comment from lawyers, economists, the business community, consumer groups, academics (including business historians), and other interested parties on two general subjects: (1) The legal and economic principles relevant to the application of section 2, including the administrability of current or potential antitrust rules for section 2, and (2) the types of business practices that the Agencies should examine in the upcoming Hearings, including examples of real-world conduct that potentially raise issues under section 2. With respect to the Agencies' request for examples of real- world conduct, the Agencies are soliciting discussions of the business reasons for, and the actual or likely competitive effects of, such conduct, including actual or likely efficiencies and the theoretical underpinnings that inform the decision of whether the conduct had or has pro-or anticompetitive effects. The Agencies will solicit additional submissions about the topics to be covered at the individual Hearings at the time that each Hearing is announced. The Agencies encourage submissions from business persons from a variety of unregulated and regulated markets, recognizing that market participants can offer unique insight into how competition works and that the implications of various business practices may differ depending on the industry context and market structure. The Agencies seek this practical input to provide a real-world foundation of knowledge from which to draw as the Hearings progress. Respondents are encouraged to respond on the basis of their actual experiences. The goal of these Hearings is to promote dialogue, learning, and consensus building among all interested parties with respect to the appropriate legal analysis of conduct under section 2 of the Sherman Act, both for purposes of law enforcement and to provide practical guidance to businesses on antitrust compliance. The FTC and the DOJ plan to hold two to four days of Hearings per month between June and December 2006, exclusive of August 2006. The Agencies plan to publish a more detailed description of the topics to be discussed before each Hearing and to solicit additional submissions about each topic. The Hearings will be transcribed and placed on the public record. Any written comments received also will be placed on the public record. A public report that incorporates the results of the Hearings, as well as other research, will be prepared after the Hearings.

The Export-Import Bank, as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Our customers will be able to submit this form on paper or electronically. The form has been updated in the following ways: The application now accommodates requests for Finance Lease Guarantee coverage. Information on Lessees and Lessors is requested in those circumstances. The application accommodates requests for Foreign Dealer Insurance policies. A separate one-page attachment (Attachment IV) is required when the applicant requests this coverage. The format has been changed so that it accords with the on-line version of the form which will be made available later in 2006. Formatting changes include:

Following receipt on March 9, 2006, of a request from the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives (Committee) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. (332(g)), the Commission instituted investigation No. 332-474, Medical Devices and Equipment: Competitive Conditions Affecting U.S. Trade in Japan and Other Principal Foreign Markets. Background: As requested by the Committee, the Commission will conduct an investigation under section 332(g) and prepare a report assessing competitive conditions affecting U.S. trade of medical devices and equipment in principal foreign markets. In preparing its report, the Commission will, as requested, closely examine the regulatory conditions of competition affecting U.S. sales and trade of medical devices and equipment in Japan, and other principal foreign markets, for the most recent 5-year period. The Commission will focus on the main U.S. exports of medical devices and equipment to these markets during this period, and compare Japan's regulatory conditions to those of the other major foreign markets for U.S.-made medical devices and equipment. This report will also include, to the extent possible, for the most recent 5-year period: (1) An overview of the global market for medical devices and equipment, including production, consumption, and trade; (2) profiles of the medical device and equipment industries in the United States and principal foreign producer countries; (3) an analysis of U.S. trade in medical devices and equipment with major competitor countries including a description of trade practices, regulatory measures such as product approvals, and government and private expenditures on medical research; and (4) an examination of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that have addressed regulatory issues in major foreign markets, including Japan's, and the implications for the U.S. medical device and equipment industry. The Commission will provide its report to the Committee by March 9, 2007.

Applicant seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. On June 10, 2005, applicant transferred its assets to Timothy Plan Large/Mid-Cap Growth Fund, a series of the Timothy Plan, based on net asset value. Expenses of $15,525 incurred in connection with the reorganization were paid by Polestar Management Company, Inc., applicant's investment adviser. Filing Date: The application was filed on March 13, 2006. Applicant's Address: 975 Delchester Rd., Newton Square, PA 19073.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or ``SEC'') is making technical amendments to Form ADV under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (``Advisers Act''). Form ADV is the form advisers use to register with the Commission and the state securities regulatory authorities. The Commission is also making technical amendments to Form ADV-W, Form ADV-H, and Form ADV-E.

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(2), the Commission of Social Security gives notice of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 06- 1(2).

This document informs the public that the Postal Service and Washington Mutual Bank (WMB) are seeking Commission approval of an agreement they have reached involving discounted First-Class Mail rates for certain WMB solicitation mail. The document describes the agreement, identifies certain preliminary decisions, and addresses procedural steps, including key deadlines.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to grant joint motions to terminate the above-captioned investigation as to all respondents on the basis of settlement agreements. The Commission has also granted-in-part and denied-in-part the private parties' requests to vacate the presiding administrative law judge's (``ALJ's'') final initial determination (``ID''). Specifically, the Commission has determined to vacate those portions of the final ID that are presently under review by the Commission, and has determined to deny the request for vacatur as to those portions of the final ID that were previously adopted by the Commission. The Commission has also granted a joint motion for leave to file corrected versions of the joint motion to terminate the investigation as to respondent Sunext Technology Co., Ltd.; denied motions for leave to reply; and denied a petition for reconsideration.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Nevada (FEMA-1629-DR), dated 02/03/2006. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 12/31/2005 through 01/04/2006. Effective Date: 03/16/2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 04/04/2006.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (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 burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.