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

Following receipt of a request letter on October 2, 2006, 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 U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-478, U.S.-China Trade: Implications of U.S.-Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends. Background: In its October 2, 2006 letter, the Committee requested that the Commission prepare three reports with respect to U.S.-China trade, with the first report to be delivered 12 months after receipt of the letter and the second and third reports, 18 and 24 months after receipt of the letter, respectively. This notice announces institution of the first of three investigations for the purpose of preparing the requested reports. The Commission will issue separate notices relating to the second and third reports at a later date (see below). As requested by the Committee, in its first report the Commission will analyze the principal trends and patterns in trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) between Asia-Pacific countries and the United States and their implications for the U.S.-China trade relationship. The report will include: (1) A discussion of the main factors influencing these trends; (2) an in-depth examination of the industries that have had a major effect on trade and investment patterns in recent years; and (3), if required, formal quantitative analyses that may help explain these trends and provide an assessment of the reliability of the data used in each analysis. The report will also review the relationship between international trade and FDI, the trade and investment policies in the major countries of the region, and their effect on economic activity both on a global scale and within the Asian and Pacific region. The Commission will provide its first report to the Committee by October 2, 2007. The Committee also directed that the Commission provide two other reports on U.S.-China trade. For the second report, the Committee asked the Commission to investigate the driving factors behind the rapid growth in U.S.-China trade. The Commission expects to initiate the investigation relating to this report in April 2007 and to provide its report to the Committee by April 2, 2008. For the third report, the Committee asked the Commission to provide an in-depth examination of China's integration with the global economy through processing trade and FDI, and its implications for U.S.-China trade and investment. The Commission expects to initiate the investigation relating to this report in October 2007 and to provide its report to the Committee by October 2, 2008.

NARA is giving public notice that the agency has submitted to OMB for approval the information collection described in this notice. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

We are adopting amendments to the language of the third-party and issuer tender offer best-price rules to clarify that the provisions apply only with respect to the consideration offered and paid for securities tendered in a tender offer. We also are amending the third- party and issuer tender offer best-price rules to provide that any consideration that is offered and paid according to employment compensation, severance or other employee benefit arrangements entered into with security holders of the subject company that meet certain requirements will not be prohibited by the rules. Finally, we are amending the third-party and issuer tender offer best-price rules to provide a safe harbor provision so that arrangements that are approved by certain independent directors of either the subject company's or the bidder's board of directors, as applicable, will not be prohibited by the rules. These amendments are intended to make it clear that the best-price rule was not intended to capture employment compensation, severance or other employee benefit arrangements. We are also making a technical amendment to correct a cross-reference in the rules that govern the ability to delegate authority for purposes of granting exemptions under the best-price rule.

In this document the Commission concludes that Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Mid-Rivers) should be treated as an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) in the Terry, Montana local exchange (Terry exchange). The Commission also concludes that Mid- Rivers' operations in the Terry exchange should remain subject to existing competitive LEC regulation for interstate purposes pending further Commission action. In addition, the Commission concludes that Qwest, the legacy incumbent LEC in the Terry exchange, should be subject to non-dominant regulation for its interstate telecommunications services in that exchange pending further action.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) furthers its ongoing efforts to ensure that its rules governing the Maritime Radio Services continue to promote maritime safety, maximize effective and efficient use of the spectrum available for maritime communications, accommodate technological innovation, avoid unnecessary regulatory burdens, and maintain consistency with international maritime standards to the extent consistent with the United States public interest. The Commission also seeks in this proceeding to ensure that it regulates the Maritime Radio Services in a manner that advances our Nation's homeland security.

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 of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a current valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA 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.

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 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 (PRA) 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.

We dismiss the petition for rule making filed by 105 Mountain Air, Inc., proposing the allotment of Channel 264A at Groveland, California, for failure to file a continuing expression of interest. It is the Commission's policy to refrain from making an allotment to a community absent an expression of interest.

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 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.

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 examination of records by comptroller general and contract audit. The clearance currently expires on January 31, 2007. 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.

The Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has determined to establish the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (``the Committee''). The Committee will provide advice and recommendations on initiatives to expand access to banking services by underserved populations. The Committee will review various issues that may include, but not be limited to, basic retail financial services such as check cashing, money orders, remittances, stored value cards, short-term loans, savings accounts, and other services to promote asset accumulation and financial stability. The Chairman certifies that the establishment of this advisory committee is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the FDIC by law.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is publishing this notice under the ``Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002,'' which is known as the No FEAR Act, to inform current employees, former employees, and applicants for NEH employment of the rights and protections available to them under Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection and retaliation laws.

On August 21, 2006, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to amend LSC's regulation on client grievance procedures. The comment period closed on September 20, 2006. LSC is reopening the comment period to allow additional time for interested parties to comment on the proposed changes.