Agencies and Commissions June 2, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Committee is proposing to add a product and services to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes products and services previously furnished by such agencies. Comments must be received on or before: July 2, 2017.

In this document, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to end the Commission's public-utility regulation of the Internet and seeks comment on returning to the bipartisan, light-touch regulatory framework that saw the free and open Internet flourish prior to the 2015 adoption of the Commission's Title II Order. Specifically, the NPRM proposes to return broadband Internet access service to its classification as an information service, return the classification of mobile broadband to its classification as a private mobile service, and eliminate the Internet standard. The NPRM also seeks comment whether the Commission should keep, modify, or eliminate the bright-line rules set forth in the Title II Order.

In this document, the Commission proposes to eliminate its rule that requires each AM, FM, and television broadcast station to maintain a main studio located in or near its community of license. The Commission tentatively finds that the main studio rule is now outdated and unnecessarily burdensome for broadcast stations. The Commission also proposes to eliminate existing requirements associated with the main studio rule, including the requirement that the main studio must have full-time management and staff present during normal business hours, and that it must have program origination capability.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (the agencies) may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. On March 1, 2017, the agencies, under the auspices of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), requested public comment on a proposal to extend, with revision, the Regulatory Capital Reporting for Institutions Subject to the Advanced Capital Adequacy Framework (FFIEC 101). The FFIEC 101 is completed only by banking organizations subject to the advanced approaches risk-based capital rule. Generally, this rule applies to banking organizations with $250 billion or more in total consolidated assets or $10 billion or more in on-balance sheet foreign exposures (advanced approaches banking organizations). The agencies proposed to remove two credit valuation adjustment (CVA) items from the exposure at default (EAD) column on FFIEC 101 Schedule B, Summary Risk-Weighted Asset Information for Banks Approved to Use Advanced Internal Ratings-Based and Advanced Measurement Approaches for Regulatory Capital Purposes (items 31.a and 31.b, column D). The comment period for this proposal expired on May 1, 2017. The agencies did not receive any comments addressing the proposed changes and are now submitting requests to OMB for review and approval of the extension, with revision, of the FFIEC 101. These reporting changes would take effect as of the September 30, 2017, report date.

As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the RRB is issuing a public notice in the Federal Register of its intent to renew an ongoing computer matching program. In this match, we provide certain Medicare and benefit rate information to state agencies allowing them to review and if necessary, adjust amounts of benefits in their public assistance programs as well as to coordinate Medicare/Medicaid payments for public assistance recipients. The purpose of this notice is to advise individuals receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act that the RRB plans to share this computer matching data with state agencies.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection on arts participation in the U.S.: Clearance Request for NEA 2018-2019 Annual Arts Basic Survey. Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by visiting www.Reginfo.gov.

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation CC to address situations where there is a dispute as to whether a check has been altered or is a forgery, and the original paper check is not available for inspection. The proposed rule would adopt a presumption of alteration for any dispute over whether the dollar amount or the payee on a substitute check or electronic check has been altered or whether the substitute check or electronic check is derived from an original check that is a forgery. This rule is intended to provide clarity as to the burden of proof in these situations.

In this document, a Report and Order provides a new framework for deregulating Business Data Services in areas where competitive forces are able to ensure just and reasonable rates. Acknowledging the presence of increased competition evidenced by the record in this proceeding, the Federal Communications Commission amends its rules to reflect changes in the business data services marketplace. By adopting this framework the Commission acts to further bolster competition and investment in business data services, and takes further steps to decrease the cost of broadband infrastructure deployment.