The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Nov. 1 with the following headquarters rulings (ruling revocations and modifications will be detailed elsewhere in a separate article as they are announced in the Customs Bulletin):
A revised draft of the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation bill (HR-5376) released Thursday retains funding for next-generation 911, the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund and other telecom programs included in a House Commerce Committee-approved proposal, albeit with less money than first proposed and as expected (see 2110010001). The $1.75 trillion measure also includes reduced amounts of broadband affordability and some other telecom money Senate Democrats sought (see 2109020072).
The Food Safety and Inspection Service should immediately revoke its finding for Australia’s meat export inspection regime -- effectively ending the country’s eligibility to export meat to the U.S. -- after finding contaminants in samples of meat imports from Australia, Food and Water Watch said in a recent letter to the agency.
Senators told us they believe there's a feasible if narrow legislative window to reconfirm FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel this year, act on fellow Democratic commission pick Gigi Sohn and affirm NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson. The White House announced President Joe Biden’s intent to choose the trio Tuesday, as expected. Biden designated Rosenworcel Tuesday as permanent chair. She had been acting head since January. The White House also nominated Winston & Strawn patent lawyer Kathi Vidal as Patent and Trademark Office director.
A three-month delay in T-Mobile's CDMA shutdown isn’t long enough, and T-Mobile should delay until 2023, a Dish Network official said Monday. Experts said the delay until March 31 likely won’t be enough to mollify other critics or California regulators. Dish bought Boost from T-Mobile to partially resolve regulator concerns about T-Mobile buying Sprint and has raised concerns many of the prepaid service’s customers use 3G phones.
A three-month delay in T-Mobile's CDMA shutdown isn’t long enough, and T-Mobile should delay until 2023, a Dish Network official said Monday. Experts said the delay until March 31 likely won’t be enough to mollify other critics or California regulators. Dish bought Boost from T-Mobile to partially resolve regulator concerns about T-Mobile buying Sprint and has raised concerns many of the prepaid service’s customers use 3G phones.
CBP on Oct. 18 asked the Alaska U.S. District Court to reconsider a temporary restraining order it issued on Jones Act penalties levied against Alaskan shipping companies, arguing that the TRO is "overbroad." Seeking to preserve its right to issue Jones Act penalties on shipments for which the five-year statute of limitations may run out, CBP wants to change the injunction from applying to any penalty notices relating to the Jones Act violation in question to just applying to penalty notices issued on or after Sept. 30 (Kloosterboer International Forwarding LLC, et al. v. United States, D. Alaska #3:21-00198).
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is looking to advance the discussion on a measure that would prohibit online platforms from self-preferencing their own products (see 2110140068). He told us he’s in discussions with ranking member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Chair Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., about a legislative hearing for the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. “I’m discussing it with both of them,” said Durbin. “We haven’t made a final decision.”
The FCC has the “clearest legal authority and expertise” to “fully oversee” ISPs, Chair Lina Khan said during an FTC meeting Thursday. Trade commissioners voted unanimously to release a staff report on ISP privacy practices (see 2110180046), with all four agreeing it revealed important findings about data collection.
Industry groups urged the FCC to act with caution on rules for secure telecom gear in U.S. networks, in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 21-232 (see 2110190072). “The record shows industry support for a narrow, targeted action based on an extensive factual record to block Covered Entities from U.S. markets,” the Telecommunications Industry Association said. Rules should be based on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and not Section 302 of the Communications Act, TIA said: “The record further highlights the costs of retroactively revoking existing equipment authorizations from Covered Entities, and while this action may have some benefits, the FCC must be cautious to ensure that the substantial costs do not outweigh the benefits to the public.” CTA also raised concerns. “While the NPRM is rightly aimed at reducing security threats from certain potential threats or bad actors, addressing network security through the equipment authorization process as the FCC has proposed could create implementation and compliance challenges for all participants,” the group said: “This is particularly the case for proposals to revoke existing authorizations and make changes to the Supplier Declaration of Conformity process, which will affect far more than the Covered List entities.” Adding “security requirements to product authorization approvals will create more issues than it will solve,” said the Mobile & Wireless Forum: “The current responsibilities of the FCC Lab are extensive without the addition of cybersecurity responsibility.” Others mostly supported FCC proposals. “Prohibiting the authorization of equipment on the Covered List is an appropriate regulatory response by the Commission following the Congressional determination that such equipment poses an unacceptable risk,” said Motorola Solutions.