Some of CBP's proposed changes for the regulations that govern customs brokers (see 2006040037) appear likely result in unexpected problems if not addressed by the agency before the rules are finalized, the Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association said in recently filed comments. “We feel strongly against the concept of a customs broker being a 'force multiplier' from an enforcement perspective and, while we do want to ensure there is 'enhanced compliance,' deputizing brokers, as some of these proposed changes demand, can lead to an unnecessarily conflictive, non-productive broker-importer as well as broker-CBP client relationship,” the trade group said. Comments in the docket are due Aug. 4.

Experts disagreed on the utility of the Trump administration approach to World Trade Organization reform, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the topic, and senators on the left and right suggested that the negotiated trade rules disadvantage Americans.

The Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee's Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group reported Wednesday on progress on a pandemic report assigned by the FCC. One theme is that access to broadband overrides all other issues raised by COVID-19, officials said during the group’s quarterly meeting, held virtually. A final report should be ready for BDAC’s next meeting in October, said Red Grasso, WG chair who represents the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. “We’ve been pretty aggressive.”

Experts disagreed on the utility of the Trump administration approach to World Trade Organization reform, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the topic, and senators on the left and right suggested that the negotiated trade rules disadvantage Americans.

Comments are due July 29 at the International Trade Commission on Cree’s Tariff Act Section 337 complaint (login required) seeking an investigation and import ban on LED fixtures from RAB Lighting for allegedly infringing five Cree patents on the structure and efficiency of LED lighting products. The allegedly infringing fixtures are for indoor or outdoor use in commercial and residential applications, said the July 15 complaint in docket 337-3473. The fixtures include numerous components, including bulbs, lenses and “housing structures,” it said. Cree’s requested import ban and other remedies “raise no public interest concerns,” it said. Cree and other LED product suppliers could meet demand for any excluded products, it said: “Consumers would not face any potential shortage.” RAB didn’t comment Thursday.

Comments are due July 29 at the International Trade Commission on Cree’s Tariff Act Section 337 complaint (login required) seeking an investigation and import ban on LED fixtures from RAB Lighting for allegedly infringing five Cree patents on the structure and efficiency of LED lighting products. The allegedly infringing fixtures are for indoor or outdoor use in commercial and residential applications, said the July 15 complaint in docket 337-3473. The fixtures include numerous components, including bulbs, lenses and “housing structures,” it said. Cree’s requested import ban and other remedies “raise no public interest concerns,” it said. Cree and other LED product suppliers could meet demand for any excluded products, it said: “Consumers would not face any potential shortage.” RAB didn’t comment Thursday.

“Non-party” critics of Nokia’s Tariff Act Section 337 complaint seeking an exclusion order on allegedly infringing Lenovo laptops, tablets and desktop PCs “fail to raise any cognizable” concerns that “merit burdening” the International Trade Commission with a “fact finding” on public interest implications of an import ban, replied Nokia Wednesday (login required) in docket 337-3466. But the issues unique to the standard-essential patents (SEPs) on H.264 video compression asserted in Nokia’s complaint justify the ITC spending the additional time to build a public-interest record in the docket, argued the App Association, the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Google (see report, July 21 issue).

The FCC exceeded its Communications Act authority by changing small satellite operators' (SSO) licenses, arbitrarily not compensating them for giving up C-band spectrum and unlawfully incentivizing other C-band incumbents, said parties challenging the commission's C-band order in a joint opening brief Tuesday (in Pacer, docket 20-1142) with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Appellants ABS, Empresa and Hispasat said the FCC created "a novel standard never before applied" when it said it permissibly modified the SSOs' licenses since they will have enough spectrum provide service to existing customers at their current level, even though the SSOs are new entrants. They said the commission didn't provide fair notice to the SSOs about its existing customers standard. Appellant PSSI Global said the Orbit Act prohibits the FCC from auctioning spectrum used for international or global satellite communications. Appellant SES didn't raise any arguments in the joint brief, which echoed PSSI arguments that SES' appeal should be dismissed (see 2007020017). The FCC emailed it "will continue to defend our order on the merits, and we look forward to the C-band auction beginning on December 8."

A Thursday Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing on the FCC and NTIA roles in spectrum policymaking is likely to at least partially focus on the dispute between the two agencies over Ligado’s L-band plan, lawmakers and officials said in interviews. The hearing is also likely to be a venue for lawmakers to address other related policy matters, including FCC disputes with other federal agencies on the 24 GHz auction and other frequencies, and bids to allocate proceeds from the coming auction of spectrum on the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band, lobbyists said. The panel begins at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell (see 2007160054).

NATOA and other state and local government groups said localities need more support from the FCC in addressing residents' RF concerns, in replies to a December NPRM (see 1912040036). CTIA noted wireless devices are safe for all consumers based on FCC rules. CTA said regulators should use a flexible approach and address wireless power transfer (WPT) as it considers new RF rules. Replies are posted through Tuesday in docket 19-226.