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

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is revising its regulations governing the Commission's involvement in voluntary standards activities. The revisions more accurately reflect current Commission practices and strengthen oversight of staff involvement in standards making activities. The revisions also codify existing procedures for internet disclosure and public comment regarding standards activities in which Commission staff is actively involved.\1\

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning preaward survey forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408.) The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2006. 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.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning the clauses and provisions required for use in commercial item acquisitions. The OMB clearance expires on October 31, 2006. 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.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning contractors' purchasing systems reviews (CPSRs). This OMB clearance expires on October 31, 2006. 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.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts rules that make interim modifications to the existing approach for assessing contributions to the federal universal service fund (USF or Fund) in order to provide stability while the Commission continues to examine more fundamental reform. First, the Commission raises the interim wireless safe harbor from its current 28.5 percent level to 37.1 percent. Second, the Commission establishes universal service contribution obligations for providers of interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. These rules are essential for securing the viability of universal servicea fundamental goal of communications policy as expressed in the Communications Actin the near-term.

This action adds to the Procurement List products to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products previously furnished by such agencies.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration proposes to revise an existing system of records titled ``Johnson Space Center Exchange Activities Records'' (JSC 72XOPR), last published on December 13, 1999 (64 FR 69568). This system of records is being revised to allow additional information to be collected from people who participate in social, sports, wellness activities and other similar activities sponsored by the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Exchange, to update the categories of individuals covered by the system, to update the categories of records in the system, and to update routine uses. The additional categories of individuals include spouses and dependents of current or past civil servants or contractor employees and others assigned to work at NASA. The additional categories of records in the system include personal body composition, fitness and exercise measures; medical history and physician releases as they pertain to exercise; facility usage records, membership and service accounts receivable and other pertinent information. The new routine uses allow for the development and implementation of programs for the health and welfare of the JSC workforce; statistical computations on work force health; maintenance of membership information; and providing patron usage information on employees of JSC contractors to their employer organizations.

The Commission has previously sought copies of original signed payroll deduction authorization forms as the sole adequate proof that contributors intended to authorize payroll deduction to make contributions to the separate segregated fund of a corporation, labor organization, or trade association. As a matter of general policy, the Commission intends to accept certain other forms of documentation as proof of payroll deduction authorization, which are described in the supplementary information below.

This document amends the standards in the Domestic Mail Manual concerning the duration and submission of temporary change-of-address orders.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates a comprehensive rulemaking to address and implement the recommendations presented by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (Independent Panel). The Independent Panel's report described the impact of the worst natural disaster in the Nation's history as well as the overall public and private response efforts. In addition, the report included recommendations which relate to: pre-positioning the communications industry and the government for disasters in order to achieve greater network reliability and resiliency; improving recovery coordination to address existing shortcomings and to maximize the use of existing resources; improving the operability and interoperability of public safety and 911 communications in times of crisis; and improving communication of emergency information to the public. The Commission, in this proceeding, is to take the lessons learned from this disaster and build upon them to promote more effective, efficient response and recovery efforts as well as heightened readiness and preparedness in the future. To accomplish this goal, the Commission invites comment on what actions the Commission can take to address the Independent Panel's recommendations.

GSA published a notice in the Federal Register at 70 FR 73248 on December 9, 2005, and an extension to that notice at 70 FR 76455 on December 27, 2005, soliciting comments on the establishment of a 4% transaction fee for transportation services provided for the GSA, Office of Global Supply. Subsequent meetings were held with transportation service provider industries and the GSA, Office of Global Supply. This notice is in response to the comments GSA received.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on June 1, 2006, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California. An amended complaint was filed on June 6, 2006, and supplementary letters were filed on June 7 and 22, 2006. The complaint as amended and supplemented alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain portable digital media players and components thereof, by reason of infringement of claim 25 of U.S. Patent No. 7,046,230, claims 25 and 33 of U.S. Patent No. 5,341,293, claims 36-39, 48, 65, 72-73, and 77-78 of U.S. Patent No. 5,898,434, and claims 1, 24, and 32 of U.S. Patent No. 6,282,646. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a permanent limited exclusion order and permanent cease and desist orders.