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The Copyright Royalty Board is correcting a proposed rule initially published on December 19, 2024, which concerns digital performance rates and ephemeral recordings for new subscription services from 2026 to 2030. The original document had a mistake in the rate adjustment formulas because it missed some parentheses, making the equations incorrect. This new document fixes those formulas. Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted online until March 12, 2025, using the Copyright Royalty Board's electronic filing system.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a new computer matching program in collaboration with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the Missouri Department of Social Services. This program aims to verify the eligibility of participants in the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) by checking if they receive benefits from programs like SNAP or Medicaid. These benefits help individuals and families access discounts for broadband and voice services. The matching process involves sharing certain personal details, such as parts of a Social Security Number, to confirm eligibility.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a new rule to improve how vehicle recall notifications are sent to owners. Thanks to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), this rule would require electronic notifications alongside traditional first-class mail. The aim is to ensure more people are informed about recalls for vehicles or equipment with safety defects. NHTSA seeks public feedback on this proposal and plans to gradually implement it, allowing manufacturers enough time to adapt.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is implementing a new rule, titled Rule 2a-5, under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This rule sets requirements for how investment companies should determine the fair value of their investments. Key elements include the management of valuation risks, specification of suitable fair value methodologies, and supervision of pricing services used to assess investment value. Additionally, the rule allows investment companies to designate a valuation expert to handle these assessments, provided they remain under the company's board's oversight. Furthermore, a new accompanying Rule 31a-4 mandates recordkeeping requirements to support these fair value determinations.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is introducing a new computer matching program with the Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology to verify eligibility for programs like Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs offer discounts on broadband and voice services to low-income individuals. The program will check if applicants are enrolled in benefits like SNAP and Medicaid, using data shared between various agencies. This verification aims to ensure only eligible individuals receive these discounts while reducing fraud.

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have proposed new rules to determine where income from cloud transactions originates for international tax purposes. These rules will impact taxpayers who make money from cloud services and need to know how to report their income under U.S. tax law. The proposal suggests using factors like the location of employees and assets to determine the source of this income and invites public comments on the approach. The proposal aims to provide clear guidelines while staying consistent with existing laws and practices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new computer matching program with the Universal Service Administrative Company and the Utah Department of Workforce Services. This program aims to verify if applicants and subscribers for the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) are eligible by checking if they receive certain benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. The verification process uses the National Verifier to ensure that those who qualify can receive discounts on broadband and voice services. The program begins on March 27, 2025, and will last for 18 months.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final regulations to address uncertainties regarding the supervisory approval of penalties. These rules are meant to clarify when and how the IRS must obtain supervisor approval for penalty assessments, ensuring penalties are imposed correctly and consistently. Public comments were reviewed, but proposed changes to the timing and definitions related to these approvals were not adopted, as they conflicted with existing laws and policies. The rules will take effect on December 23, 2024, and are designed to prevent improper use of penalties while making the process more transparent for taxpayers.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a rule specifying the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The rule clarifies that the MBTA's prohibitions on actions like pursuing, hunting, capturing, or killing migratory birds apply only to deliberate actions directed at these birds, their nests, or their eggs. It explains that the incidental harm or death of birds resulting from activities not aimed at them is not covered under this law. This decision aims to provide legal clarity and reduce regulatory uncertainty for industries and individuals.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued new regulations clarifying when tax-exempt bonds are considered retired for federal tax purposes. These rules aim to unify previous guidelines and are important for state and local governments that issue such bonds. The regulations detail specific situations where bonds can be seen as retired, including significant modifications to bond terms or certain transactions like purchases by the issuer. These changes will take effect on December 30, 2025, but issuers have the option to apply the new rules starting December 30, 2024.