Agencies and Commissions December 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice advises interested persons that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has approved a request from the American Arbitration Association (AAA) for approval of an alternative arbitration procedure.

The purpose of this notice is to inform Federal agencies that FTR Bulletin 20-02, pertaining to travel, transportation, and relocation allowances impacted by recent changes to Federal tax law, has been published and is now available online at www.gsa.gov/ ftrbulletin. This bulletin contains certain examples and tables that were removed from the FTR as a result of FTR Amendment 2020-02, published by GSA on November 25, 2019, and issued as a direct final rule. This bulletin also rescinds FTR Bulletins 18-05 and 19-02 now that FTR Amendment 2020-02 has been issued, amending the FTR in line with changes to the Internal Revenue Code.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for submitting Letters of Intent to Apply for 2020 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.

The Commission is acknowledging a recent filing requesting the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Ten). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.

On October 24, 2019, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), published in the Federal Register a proposal to establish risk-based capital requirements for depository institution holding companies that are significantly engaged in insurance activities. The Board has determined that an extension of the comment period until January 22, 2020, is appropriate.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) is adopting certain amendments containing the regulations applicable to commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs). The amendments (Final Rules) are consistent with and/or expand upon no- action and exemptive letters issued by the Commission's Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (DSIO). In particular, the Commission intends to increase regulatory certainty by amending two regulations. In the first, the Commission is providing clarification that the exclusion from the CPO definition currently provided for a registered investment company (RIC) should be claimed by the entity most commonly understood to solicit for or ``operate'' the RIC, i.e., its investment adviser, and is adding an exclusion for the investment advisers of business development companies (BDCs), which share many operational similarities with RICs. In the second, the Commission is adopting amendments to the ``Reporting Person'' definition that would eliminate the filing requirements for Forms CPO-PQR and CTA-PR for certain classes of CPOs and CTAs.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'' or the ``SEC'') is proposing amendments under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers Act'' or the ``Act'') to the rules that prohibit certain investment adviser advertisements and payments to solicitors, respectively. The proposed amendments to the advertising rule reflect market developments since the rule's adoption in 1961. The proposed amendments to the solicitation rule update its coverage to reflect regulatory changes and the evolution of industry practices since we adopted the rule in 1979. The Commission is also proposing amendments to Form ADV that are designed to provide the Commission with additional information regarding advisers' advertising practices. Finally, the Commission is proposing amendments under the Advisers Act to the books and records rule, to correspond to the proposed changes to the advertising and solicitation rules.

Correction is made to notice 84 FR 65174, which was published on November 26, 2019, to replace the investigation number listed as ``337-TA-1100'' in the case caption, with ``337-TA-1167.''

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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 ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years. Comments: Comments are invited 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 Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (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.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Application for Special Buyer Credit Limit under the Multi-Buyer Export Credit Insurance Policy is used by policyholders, the majority of whom are U.S. small businesses, who export U.S. goods and services. This application provides EXIM Bank with the credit information necessary to make a determination of eligibility of a transaction for EXIM Bank support with a foreign buyer credit request and to obtain legislatively required assurance of repayment and fulfills other statutory requirements. The application can be reviewed at: https://www.exim.gov/sites/default/files/pub/ pending/eib-92-51.pdf Application for Special Buyer Credit Limit Multi- buyer Credit Insurance Policy.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. EXIM Bank has an electronic disbursement approval processing system for guarantee lenders with transactions documented under Medium-Term Master Guarantee Agreements. After an export transaction has been authorized by EXIM Bank and legal documentation has been completed, the lender will obtain and review the required disbursement documents (e.g., invoices, bills of lading, Exporter's Certificate, etc.) and will disburse the proceeds of the loan for eligible goods and services. In order to obtain approval of the disbursement, the lender will access and complete an electronic questionnaire through EXIM Bank's online application system (EXIM Online). Using the form, the lender will input key data and request EXIM Bank's approval of the disbursement. EXIM Bank's action (approved or denied) is posted on the lender's history page. The information collected in the questionnaire will assist EXIM Bank in determining that each disbursement under a Medium-Term Guarantee meets all the terms and conditions for approval. The information collection tool can be reviewed at: https:// exim.gov/sites/default/files/pub/pending/eib12-01.pdf.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) publishes notice of certain Federal agency requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). We publish notice in the Federal Register and on regulations.gov for records schedules in which agencies propose to dispose of records they no longer need to conduct agency business. We invite public comments on such records schedules.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.