Agencies and Commissions October 3, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Standard Form 28, affidavit of individual surety. The clearance currently expires on February 29, 2008. 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 Board and the Commission jointly are adopting a single set of final rules that implement certain of the exceptions for banks from the definition of the term ``broker'' under Section 3(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act''), as amended by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (``GLBA''). The rules define terms used in these statutory exceptions and include certain related exemptions. In developing these rules, the Agencies have consulted with, and sought the concurrence of, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (``OCC''), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (``FDIC'') and the Office of Thrift Supervision (``OTS''), and have taken into consideration all comments received on the proposed rules issued in December 2006. The rules are intended, among other things, to facilitate banks' compliance with the Exchange Act and the GLBA.