Big wireless carriers sounded the alarm about California considering a connections-based USF contribution mechanism. Some wireline companies and consumer advocates supported the change, in Monday comments at the California Public Utilities Commission. They highlighted ways to mitigate possible regressive impacts of moving from a revenue-based mechanism for California’s public purpose programs (PPPs). Oklahoma and Nebraska commissions may soon adopt state USF contribution changes, said agency officials in those states.
Some members of Congress are taking a tentative renewed look at legislation to reallocate proceeds from the FCC's recent auction of spectrum from the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band to pay for broadband, before Capitol Hill's debate over infrastructure spending. President Joe Biden proposes $2.3 trillion for infrastructure, including $100 billion for broadband (see 2103310064). Republicans criticized the administration for pursuing corporate tax increases to help pay for it.
Some members of Congress are taking a tentative renewed look at legislation to reallocate proceeds from the FCC's recent auction of spectrum from the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band to pay for broadband, before Capitol Hill's debate over infrastructure spending. President Joe Biden proposes $2.3 trillion for infrastructure, including $100 billion for broadband (see 2103310064). Republicans criticized the administration for pursuing corporate tax increases to help pay for it.
SpaceX faces increased heat from rival non-geostationary orbit satellite operators for supposedly changing types of antennas used on its Starlink satellites without notifying the FCC. Such a change could open the door to fines or the agency ordering the satellites shut down, experts said in interviews.
Legislators advancing a data broker privacy bill should amend it to exempt entities covered by federal laws and data in the public domain, industry groups told Nevada’s Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. AT&T, which supported a Nevada privacy bill in 2019, testified that it remains neutral on the latest bill until amendments are presented and supports continued collaboration on “meaningful, common-sense privacy reform.”
The FCC must close a loophole that lets gear from Huawei and other Chinese companies be approved under equipment authorization rules, Commissioner Brendan Carr said during a Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar. The agency barred equipment by Huawei and ZTE in networks funded by USF. It should clamp down to ensure it’s not used in any U.S. systems, Carr said.
Legislators advancing a data broker privacy bill should amend it to exempt entities covered by federal laws and data in the public domain, industry groups told Nevada’s Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. AT&T, which supported a Nevada privacy bill in 2019, testified that it remains neutral on the latest bill until amendments are presented and supports continued collaboration on “meaningful, common-sense privacy reform.”
Steel parts importer Smith-Cooper International settled a False Claims Act allegation raised by Island Industries that the importer evaded antidumping duties, according to a March 29 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. In 2017, Island accused SCI of failing to pay antidumping duties on its welded outlet imports from China while also alleging that SCI submitted false information to the U.S. relating to the applicability and amount of duties owed. The initial lawsuit also accused four companies and 11 individuals of violating the FCA due to duty evasion. In the joint motion to dismiss the case, the case was described as having been vigorously litigated. Now a confidential settlement between SCI and Island has been submitted and accepted by the court. Allied Rubber and Gasket Co. was dismissed from the case in August 2020 while litigation continued with the remaining parties.
The FCC must close a loophole that lets gear from Huawei and other Chinese companies be approved under equipment authorization rules, Commissioner Brendan Carr said during a Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar Tuesday. The agency barred equipment by Huawei and ZTE in networks funded by USF. It should clamp down to ensure it’s not used in any U.S. systems, Carr said.
DOJ appears to be digging in for a fight over refund relief for the thousands of Section 301 plaintiffs inundating the U.S. Court of International Trade to declare the Lists 3 and 4A Chinese tariffs unlawful. The government won’t support a stipulation in which the plaintiffs, if successful in the massive litigation, could seek refunds of all tariffs paid, said a DOJ response (in Pacer) Friday in docket 1:21-cv-52. Importers are seeking upfront government support for refunds, regardless of the imports’ liquidation status, including whether the 12-month window on protesting individual liquidations will have expired.