Agencies and Commissions February 23, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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; (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; and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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; (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 and (e) ways to further reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

The Commission is adding Express Mail Contract 8 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with a postal reform law. Republication of the Product Lists is also consistent with a statutory provision.

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, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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; (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; and (e) ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 19) of the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') terminating the above-captioned investigation based on a settlement agreement.

Section 1211 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) amended the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) to expand the types of eligible collateral that community financial institution (CFI) members may pledge to secure Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) advances to include secured loans for community development activities and to allow Banks to make long-term advances to CFI members for purposes of financing community development activities. Section 1211 further provides that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shall define the term ``community development activities'' by regulation. Consequently, FHFA is proposing to amend the advances regulations to allow CFI members to pledge secured loans for community development activities as eligible collateral for advances, to provide that CFI members may use long term advances to fund community development activities and to define ``community development,'' ``community development loan,'' and other related terms necessary to implement these provisions. The proposal would also transfer the advances and new business activities regulations from the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB) regulations to the FHFA regulations, and make other conforming amendments. Finally, the proposed rule would also make a change to the advances regulation which would incorporate a long-standing policy previously established by the FHFB that any form of secured lending by a Bank to a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System (Bank System) is deemed to be an advance. The proposed rule would extend that policy to cover secured lending transactions by a Bank to affiliates of members.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with Sections 25.221(b)(1)(i) through (iii), 25.222(b)(1)(i) through (iii), 25.221(b)(1)(iv)(A), (B), 25.222(b)(1)(iv)(A), (B), 25.221(b)(2)(i) through (v), 25.222(b)(2)(i) through (v), 25.221(b)(4) and 25.222(b)(4) of the Commission's rules, and that these rules will take effect as of the date of this notice. On September 15, 2009, the Commission published the summary document of the Order on Reconsideration, In the Matter of Procedures to Govern the Use of Satellite Earth Stations on Board Vessels in the 5925-6425 MHz/3700-4200 MHz Bands and 14.0-14.5 GHz/11.7-12.2 GHz, IB Docket No. 02-10, FCC 09-63, at 74 FR 47100. This published item stated that the Commission will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing when OMB approval for the rule sections which contain information collection requirements has been received and when the revised rules will take effect. This notice is consistent with the statement in the published summary document of the Order on Reconsideration.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopts the proposal in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding, to eliminate that portion of the Commission's rules governing International Fixed Public Radiocommunication Services (IFPRS). The elimination of these rules is to facilitate coordination of facilities and services in the C-band (3700-4200 MHz and 5926-6425 MHz).