Agencies and Commissions May 27, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Fourth FNPRM) seeks comment on whether to modify FCC Form 323-E, the Ownership Report filed by noncommercial educational (NCE) licensees of AM, FM, and TV broadcast stations, to obtain gender, race, and ethnicity data. Obtaining the information, the FCC believes, would further its goal to design policies to advance diversity in the broadcast industry. The Fourth FNPRM also seeks comment on whether to collect gender, race and ethnicity ownership information for low power FM (LPFM) licensees or whether to continue to exempt LPFM licensees from the 323-E filing requirements.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the following information collection(s). 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. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 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 OMB control number.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Small Business Administration's intentions to request approval on a new and/or currently approved information collection.

On April 6, 2009, the U.S. Department of Commerce published notice of the revocation of its antidumping duty order on gray portland cement and cement clinker from Mexico and termination of the sunset review of the order (74 FR 15435). Accordingly, the Commission gives notice that its antidumping duty review concerning gray portland cement and cement clinker from Mexico (Investigation No. 731-TA-451 (Second Review)) is terminated.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing amendments to the custody rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and related forms. The amendments, among other things, would require registered investment advisers that have custody of client funds or securities to undergo an annual surprise examination by an independent public accountant to verify client funds and securities. In addition, unless client accounts are maintained by an independent qualified custodian (i.e., a custodian other than the adviser or a related person), the adviser or related person must obtain a written report from an independent public accountant that includes an opinion regarding the qualified custodian's controls relating to custody of client assets. Finally, the amendments would provide the Commission with better information about the custodial practices of registered investment advisers. The amendments are designed to provide additional safeguards under the Advisers Act when an adviser has custody of client funds or securities.

This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2451(314)(d). The 2009 Lunar Lander Challenge is now scheduled and teams that wish to compete may soon register (see contact information below). The NASA Centennial Challenges is a program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in technologies of interest and value to NASA and the nation. The Lunar Lander Challenge is a prize competition designed to accelerate technology developments in reusable rocket-powered vehicles including vehicles capable of ferrying cargo or humans between lunar orbit and the lunar surface as well as future Earth launch vehicles or other rocket-powered vehicles. The Lunar Lander Challenge is administered for NASA by the X Prize Foundation. The prize purse is funded by NASA.