Agencies and Commissions February 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).

The Board is withdrawing a final rule amending Regulation Z and the staff commentary to the regulation published on January 29, 2009 (January 2009 Regulation Z Rule). See 72 FR 5244. The Board is publishing a new final rule elsewhere in this Federal Register amending Regulation Z in order to implement the provisions of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 that are effective on February 22, 2010. The requirements of the January 2009 Regulation Z Rule have been revised for consistency with the Credit Card Act and incorporated in the new final rule. Therefore, the Board is withdrawing the January 2009 Regulation Z Rule as unnecessary.

The Archivist of the United States has determined that the establishment of the Founding Fathers Advisory Committee is necessary and is in the public interest in connection with the Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008. This committee will comply with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.)

SBA is amending its disaster assistance regulations to reflect changes to the Small Business Act (Act) made by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which require SBA to promulgate regulations in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that each application for disaster assistance is processed by SBA or another appropriate agency in a prompt manner. This direct final rule clarifies SBA's process of timely coordination with FEMA and other agencies for delivering Federal disaster assistance to homeowners and renters who have sustained property damage as a result of a disaster declared by the President.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with VA/VBA.