New regs for Monday: Phones, banks, trucks

Monday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for government-subsidized phone service, reserve requirements for banks and exemptions for certain truck drivers.

Here’s what is happening:

Phones: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving forward with new rules for the subsidy program that provides low-income consumers with discount phone service.

{mosads}The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau is issuing new usage requirements for low-income consumers who subscribe to the Lifeline program.

The new rules go into effect in 30 days.

Banks: The Federal Reserve is moving forward with changes to the reserve requirements for depository institutions.

The new rules will affect the interest paid to banks on their reserves held by the Federal Reserve.

The interest payments on some accounts will now be based on the daily rate.

The changes go into effect on July 23.

Waivers: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) granted dozens of regulatory waivers in the first quarter of 2015.

In a list published in the Federal Register by HUD, the agency indicates it granted 34 waivers from its rules and regulations during the beginning of the year.

Trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is loosening the rules for certain truck drivers.

The FMCSA said it will exempt truck drivers from the Department of Energy from otherwise mandatory rest breaks. These truck drivers transport security-sensitive radioactive materials.

They will still be required to meet looser rest break requirements.

The agency is also considering exempting another 34 truck drivers who are partially blind and 51 who suffer from insulin-treated diabetes mellitus from regulations that would otherwise prohibit them from driving.