Search Results for keywords:"small business impact"

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public and federal agency comments on its current information collection practices, as part of efforts to reduce paperwork burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The FCC is reviewing various aspects, including the necessity, accuracy, and ways to enhance the quality and minimize the burden of these collections, especially for small businesses. The information collections under review involve rules and requirements for Signal Boosters, including labeling and registration processes to ensure compliance and protect network safety. Written comments are due by April 12, 2021, and further inquiries can be directed to Cathy Williams at the FCC.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public input on proposed updates to its rules for broadcast radio and TV stations. These updates aim to align current application processing requirements, remove outdated references to older filing systems, and make rules clearer to reduce confusion. Key proposals include changing rules about electronic filing, updating guidelines for certain stations to increase power, and introducing new notification requirements for applicants. The changes are intended to make the process more efficient and accessible to station operators, especially small business owners.

The Coast Guard has decided to remove a regulated navigation area in Sparkman Channel, Tampa, Florida. Initially, the area restricted vessel drafts to protect navigation due to an underwater pipeline, but advancements in technology have rendered these restrictions unnecessary. The change, effective March 4, 2021, aims to eliminate these outdated limitations, and the Coast Guard sees no significant impact on small businesses or the environment. This action is being taken under the authority granted by U.S. law, and no new rules or navigational hurdles are being introduced by this change.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a rule that would require alcohol beverage labels to disclose the presence of major food allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. This initiative aims to give consumers who are allergic to these foods essential information to make informed choices about alcohol consumption. The proposal is part of a broader push to standardize labeling with other food products, and TTB is considering an extended compliance period to reduce the impact on the industry, particularly small businesses. Comments on the proposal are being sought until April 17, 2025.

DoD, GSA, and NASA have issued a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in order to implement an Executive Order that promotes the use of American-made goods in government procurement. This rule increases domestic content requirements for products, especially focusing on iron and steel, and raises the price preference for domestic goods from 6% to 20% for large businesses and from 12% to 30% for small businesses. Additionally, certain aspects of the Buy American statute are retained, such as waivers for Commercially Available Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items, although exceptions apply for products predominantly made of iron or steel. The rule is intended to boost economic growth, job creation, and national security by encouraging the use of U.S.-manufactured products.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing a new rule to oversee certificate revocation decisions within the STIR/SHAKEN governance system, which aims to combat illegal robocalls by authenticating caller IDs. The FCC wants to ensure that if a voice service provider's certificate is revoked, making them noncompliant with regulations, they have a fair chance to appeal the decision. The proposal seeks public comments and outlines procedures for appeals, emphasizing the importance of maintaining secure and trustworthy communications systems while considering the burden on small businesses.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has updated its regulations to include the latest version (Version 4.0) of business practice standards for interstate natural gas pipelines, created by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). This update aims to improve efficiency and reliability in the natural gas industry and enhance cybersecurity protections. The new rules go into effect on February 7, 2025, with compliance required by August 1, 2025. FERC continues to exclude certain standards, like optional model contracts, from being incorporated by reference.

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and NASA have released a Small Entity Compliance Guide summarizing a new rule from the Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-04. This rule amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation to increase the domestic content requirements and price evaluation preferences for American-made goods under the Buy American statute. The changes aim to boost economic and national security by reducing foreign content in U.S. manufactured products. Even though the rules increase the requirements, they are not expected to significantly impact a large number of small businesses.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking public comments on its proposal to revise the rules for hearing aid compatibility of wireless handsets. This is part of the Commission's effort to reduce paperwork and regulatory burdens under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The updates include requiring all handset models to be compatible with hearing aids, adding Bluetooth compatibility requirements, and simplifying labeling and certification processes. These changes aim to ensure that people with hearing loss can access a broader range of handset models, while also reducing costs for manufacturers and service providers.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a new rule that would require all alcohol beverage labels to include a standardized "Alcohol Facts" statement. This label would disclose the per-serving alcohol content, calories, and nutritional information for wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. The proposal aims to help consumers make more informed decisions by providing them with vital product information on the label. TTB plans to allow five years for compliance, giving producers time to adjust their labels accordingly.