{"abstract":"This document contains a final rule under new section 101(i) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act or ERISA). Section 101(i) of ERISA, which was enacted into law on July 30, 2002 as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the SOA), provides that written notice is to be provided to affected participants and beneficiaries of individual account plans of any \"blackout period\" during which their right to direct or diversify investments, obtain a loan or obtain a distribution under the plan may be temporarily suspended. The final rules provide guidance to plan sponsors, administrators, participants and beneficiaries regarding the requirements for furnishing notices of blackout periods in individual account pension plans.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration","name":"Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration","id":404,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/pension-and-welfare-benefits-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/404","parent_id":271,"slug":"pension-and-welfare-benefits-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2003/01/24/03-1430.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":2520,"title":29}],"citation":"68 FR 3716","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: This final rule is effective January 26, 2003. Applicability date: This final rule shall apply to blackout periods commencing on or after January 26, 2003.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"03-1430","effective_on":"2003-01-26","end_page":3729,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2003/01/24/03-1430.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/01/24/03-1430/final-rule-relating-to-notice-of-blackout-periods-to-participants-and-beneficiaries","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/03-1430?publication_date=2003-01-24","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2003-01-24/03-1430/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":14,"page_views":{"count":3392,"last_updated":"2026-08-26 16:15:06 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2003-01-24/pdf/03-1430.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2003-01-24","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2003/01/24/03-1430.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1210-AA90":{"issue":"200210","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1210-AA90/blackout-notice-regulation","title":"Blackout Notice Regulation","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200210&RIN=1210-AA90&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1210-AA90"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":3716,"subtype":null,"title":"Final Rule Relating to Notice of Blackout Periods to Participants and Beneficiaries","toc_doc":"Temporary suspension of right to direct or diversify investments and obtain loans or distributions","toc_subject":"Employee Retirement Income Security Act:","topics":["Employee benefit plans","Pensions","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":68}