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

Ancillary terrestrial components (ATC) allow MSS operators to integrate terrestrial services into their satellite networks in order to augment coverage in areas where their satellite signals are largely unavailable due to blocking, by re-using their assigned MSS frequencies. In the Big LEO bands, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has limited ATC operations to the 1610-1615.5 MHz, 1621.35-1626.5 MHz in the L-band and 2487.5-2493 MHz in the S- band. The Commission seeks comment on expanding the L-band and S-band spectrum in which satellite operator Globalstar, Inc. is authorized to operate ATC. The Commission also seeks comment on what measures would be needed to protect services with which the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) shares the S-band.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) hereby announces its intention to award grants and contracts to provide economical and effective delivery of high quality civil legal services to eligible low-income clients, beginning January 1, 2008.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is providing notice of an update to the record system, Acquisition Career Management Information System (ACMIS) (GSA/OAP-2). The system collects information to track, verify, update, and manage the careers of Federal employees in acquisition occupations and to manage funds, size, and strength of the Federal acquisition workforce.

The Federal Election Commission (``Commission'') is making permanent a program that allows respondents in enforcement proceedings under the Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended (``FECA''), to have a hearing before the Commission. Hearings will take place prior to the Commission's consideration of the General Counsel's recommendation on whether to find probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred. The Commission will grant a request for a probable cause hearing if any two commissioners agree to hold a hearing. The program will provide respondents with the opportunity to present arguments to the Commission directly and give the Commission an opportunity to ask relevant questions. Further information about the procedures for the program is provided in the supplementary information that follows.

This document announces a revised procedure for the upcoming auction(s) of 700 MHz Band licenses scheduled to begin on January 24, 2008 (Auctions 73 and 76), specifically setting the additional default payment percentage at ten percent for the D Block license, and provides further guidance regarding negotiation of the Network Sharing Agreement between the winning bidder of D Block license and the new national Public Safety Broadband Licensee.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice advises interested persons that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the digital Age (``Diversity Committee'') will hold a meeting on December 10, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Federal Communications Commission, Room TW-C305, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Reports from the subcommittees will be presented. Barbara Kreisman is the Diversity Committee's Designated Federal Officer.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 72 FR 50410, and no substantial comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to implement a provision of the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004 granting agencies additional flexibility to pay retention incentives. The final regulations permit an agency to pay a retention incentive to an employee who would be likely to leave for a different position in the Federal service before the closure or relocation of the employee's office, facility, activity, or organization. The final regulations provide agencies with additional flexibility to help retain employees critical to important agency missions and better meet strategic human capital needs.

The Committee is proposing to delete from the Procurement List products previously furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received on or Before: December 16, 2007.

Background. Notice is hereby given of the final approval of proposed information collections by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) under OMB delegated authority, as per 5 CFR 1320.16 (OMB Regulations on Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public). Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, supporting statements and approved collection of information instrument(s) are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

This document corrects a final rule appearing in the Federal Register on August 28, 2007 (72 FR 49139), that requires the use of electronic submissions in all agency hearings, consistent with the existing practice for the high-level radioactive waste repository application. This document is necessary to correct two typographical errors.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the GSA, Office of Governmentwide Policy will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement concerning reporting tangible personal property. In support of OMB's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, GSA invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning forms that will be used to collect information related to tangible personal property when required by a Federal financial assistance award. To view the form, go to OMB's main Web page at https://www.OMB.gov and click on the ``Grants Management'' and ``Forms'' links. OMB specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through 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 GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement concerning reporting real property status. In support of OMB's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, GSA invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning forms that will be used to collect information related to real property when required by a Federal financial assistance award. To view the form, go to OMB's main Web page at https://www.OMB.gov and click on the ``Grants Management'' and ``Forms'' links. OMB specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through 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 certification of independent price determination and parent company and identifying data. The clearance currently expires on January 31, 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.