Agencies and Commissions November 2, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 29, 2007, the Chairman of CITA received a request from Monterey Mills, alleging that certain acrylic staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, classified under subheading 5503.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and requesting that CITA consider whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rule of origin for knit pile fabrics, classified under HTSUS subheading 6001.10, should be modified to allow the use of non-North American acrylic staple fiber. The President may proclaim a modification to the NAFTA rules of origin only after reaching an agreement with the other NAFTA countries on the modification. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether acrylic staple fiber of HTSUS subheading 5503.30 can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by December 3, 2007 to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List products and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received on or Before: December 2, 2007.

The Commissioner of Social Security gives notice that on November 1, 2007, a supplementary agreement will enter into force which amends the Social Security agreement between the United States (U.S.) and Sweden that has been in effect since January 1, 1987. The supplementary agreement, which was signed on June 24, 2004, was concluded pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act. When the original agreement was concluded, Sweden had a two-tier Social Security system that consisted of an earnings-related, defined- benefit program and a residence-based, flat-rate benefit program. Recent Swedish legislation restructured the system. People born after 1953 are now covered by a program consisting of three components. The new Swedish system includes an earnings-related, defined-contribution benefit program administered by the government, a program of individual investment accounts, and a guaranteed minimum pension payable if income-based pensions and certain other income fall below specified levels. The primary purpose of the supplementary agreement is to conform the Swedish benefit provisions of the original agreement to Sweden's new Social Security system. The supplementary agreement also changes the provision that authorizes SSA to take into account Swedish periods of coverage in determining eligibility for U.S. Totalization benefits so that it refers to periods under the new Swedish pension program rather than the old program. The new Swedish Social Security law allows people to qualify for most benefits with very little coverage credit. It is not expected, therefore, that many people will need to have their U.S. and Swedish coverage credits totalized to become eligible for most Swedish benefits. The supplementary agreement provides that U.S. Social Security benefits will not be counted in applying pension offsets that normally reduce the amount of Swedish disability benefits. Thus, the supplementary agreement will provide U.S. workers enhanced disability benefit protection under the Swedish system at little, if any, additional cost to the U.S. Social Security system. In addition to the changes in the U.S. and Swedish benefit provisions, the supplementary agreement updates several other provisions to take account of amendments to both U.S. and Swedish laws and to conform the wording of the agreement to the more recent Totalization agreements concluded by the United States. Other changes in the agreement are merely clarifications to reflect the manner in which the agreement is currently applied. Individuals who wish to obtain copies of the supplementary agreement or want general information about its provisions may visit the Social Security Administration's Web site at https:// www.socialsecurity.gov/international or may write to the Social Security Administration, Office of International Programs, Post Office Box 17741, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

This document announces the procedures and minimum opening bids for the upcoming auction of certain 700 MHz Band Licenses (Auctions 73 and 76). This document is intended to familiarize prospective bidders with the procedures and minimum opening bids for these auctions.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) amends its rules in order to ensure the efficient, rapid, and secure transmission of Emergency Alert System (EAS) alerts in a variety of formats (including text, audio, and video) and via different means (broadcast, cable, satellite, and other networks), increasing the reliability, security, and efficacy of the nation's EAS network.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1727, 42 U.S.C. 15532) transferred authority to promulgate regulations under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) (Pub. L. 93- 31, 197 Stat. 77, 42 U.S.C. 1973gg-1 et. seq. at 41 U.S.C. 1973gg-7(a)) from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is presently considering the administrative transfer of NVRA regulations previously adopted and maintained by the FEC. These regulations are currently located at 11 CFR Part 8. In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), this administrative transfer of the regulations would make no substantive changes to the FEC regulations and would be made without public comment. The only changes made would be technical, such as the address and contact information for the responsible agency. Following this administrative transfer of the regulations, the EAC would begin efforts to substantively amend the rules. This rulemaking process would include substantial public involvement, including public notice and comment pursuant to the APA. The EAC currently seeks public comment on whether the agency should administratively transfer regulations previously adopted and maintained by the FEC regarding the NVRA, currently located at 11 CFR Part 8, and then substantively amend those rules. Please note that the EAC does not seek substantive comment on the content of the existing regulations or potential modifications to the regulations.

In this document the Commission seeks comment on several issues relating to the Emergency Alert System (EAS), in order to ensure that EAS rules better protect the life and property of all Americans. Recognizing the need of all Americans to be alerted in the event of an emergency, the Commission seeks comment on those whose primary language is not English, and persons with disabilities, to determine how these communities might best be served by EAS. The Commission also seeks comment on whether emergency alerts transmitted by local authorities should be transmitted, and various ways that performance of EAS operation may be assessed.