Agencies and Commissions September 28, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On July 27, 2021, the NCUA Board (Board) published in the Federal Register a document entitled ``Request for Information and Comment on Digital Assets and Related Technologies'' (RFI) and invited comments from interested parties regarding the current and potential impact of activities connected to digital assets and related technologies on federally insured credit unions (FICUs), related entities, and the NCUA. The Board noted that it was broadly interested in receiving input on commenters' views in this area, including current and potential uses in the credit union system, and the risks associated with them. To allow interested persons more time to consider and submit their comments, the Board has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 30 days.

The NCUA Board (Board) is proposing to amend the Subordinated Debt rule, which the Board finalized in December 2020 with an effective date of January 1, 2022. The Board proposes to amend the definition of ``Grandfathered Secondary Capital'' to include any secondary capital issued to the United States Government or one of its subdivisions (U.S. Government), under an application approved before January 1, 2022, irrespective of the date of issuance. The proposed change would benefit eligible low-income credit unions (LICUs) that are either participating in the U.S. Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) or other programs administered by the U.S. Government that can be used to fund secondary capital, if they do not receive the funds for such programs by December 31, 2021. The Board also proposes to extend the expiration of regulatory capital treatment for these issuances to the later of 20 years from the date of issuance or January 1, 2042.

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.

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given that a meeting of the National Council on the Arts will be held open to the public by videoconference or teleconference.

The FDIC published a document in the Federal Register of September 22, 2021 concerning request for comments on the agency's collection of information that may result from innovators obtaining information from banks and other members of the public in connection with innovation pilot programs, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The document contained an incorrect number of hours in the ``General Description of Collection'' section in the document. The correct number of hours, however, was reflected in the ``Summary of Annual Burden'' Table in the document.

In July 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) published a consumer product safety standard for gates and enclosures under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The Commission's mandatory standard incorporated by reference the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standard that was in effect for gates and enclosures at the time, with modifications to make the standard more stringent, to further reduce the risk of injury associated with gates and enclosures. The CPSIA sets forth a process for updating mandatory standards for durable infant or toddler products that are based on a voluntary standard, when a voluntary standards organization revises the standard. In June 2021, ASTM published a revised voluntary standard for gates and enclosures, and it notified the Commission of this revised standard in July 2021. This direct final rule updates the mandatory standard for gates and enclosures to incorporate by reference ASTM's 2021 version of the voluntary standard for gates and enclosures.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) addresses three petitions for reconsideration of the 2017 Report and Order in this proceeding, which reorganized and updated the Personal Radio Services rules. Cobra Electronics Corporation (Cobra), Motorola Solutions, Inc. (Motorola), and Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic) each filed a petition for reconsideration of particular aspects of the Report and Order regarding specific services. In the Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by granting the petitions and making some additional rule corrections.