Rapid growth in the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturing sector is a threat to U.S. national security because it’s a possible source of cyberattacks on U.S. communications infrastructure, said retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John Adams in a report released Wednesday, commissioned by the lobbying and policy group Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). The report said U.S. national security and the nation’s defense-industrial base are threatened by an over-reliance on foreign suppliers for “critical defense materials,” including telecom equipment (http://bit.ly/144fqnC). The AAM report follows the release earlier this week of a Defense Department report to Congress that said at least some cyberattacks on U.S. government and civilian computer networks “appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military.” China is waging these attacks to gather information on U.S. defense, diplomatic and economic interests “that support U.S. national defense programs,” the Defense Department said in its report (http://1.usa.gov/13ecTZb). The Defense Department report makes it “all the more urgent” that the U.S. restore domestic production of telecom equipment and other equipment needed for military use, Adams said at a news conference Wednesday.

A circulating FCC International Bureau notice of inquiry addresses the concerns raised by satellite integrators against Intelsat, commission officials said. The proposed NOI looks at issues related to warehousing and vertical foreclosure in the satellite space segment, officials said. There were allegations in fixed satellite that Intelsat was warehousing spectrum, an agency official said. The NOI follows up on those allegations and asks questions about it, the official said.

The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG) is hopeful an April 22 forfeiture complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland will allow the group to address a number of issues it hadn't yet been able to litigate over, said Peter Tompa, a lawyer with Bailey and Ehrenberg who is representing ACCG. "We are reviewing the forfeiture complaint and will file a claim and answer in the time frame allowed," he said by email.

The House will be “more thoughtful” in its consideration of the Marketplace Fairness Act, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., in a statement Monday after the bill passed the Senate 69-27. The bill allows states to require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax on transactions between the retailers and each state’s residents. “It is disappointing that the latest version of the Marketplace Fairness Act did not follow regular order in the Senate, but instead bypassed the Senate committee having the subject matter expertise,” Goodlatte said.

The House will be “more thoughtful” in its consideration of the Marketplace Fairness Act, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., in a statement Monday after the bill passed the Senate 69-27. The bill allows states to require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax on transactions between the retailers and each state’s residents. “It is disappointing that the latest version of the Marketplace Fairness Act did not follow regular order in the Senate, but instead bypassed the Senate committee having the subject matter expertise,” Goodlatte said.

Imports support more than 16 million U.S. jobs, drive innovation and boost U.S. exports, according to a May 6 study from the Chamber of Commerce and other trade industry groups. “Imports are not the bogeyman some Americans believe them to be," said the study (here). "They are not an evil one must endure to export.” The study was commissioned by the Chamber, the American Apparel and Footwear Association, the National Retail Federation and the Consumer Electronics Association. It said that American families actually benefit from imports because imports “ensure a wide selection of budget-friendly goods” and allow companies to lower production costs and stay competitive. Imports also support millions of jobs -- many union jobs held by minorities and women -- and support exports. Because the U.S. is integrated into an international supply chain, the research, design and components of imports often originate in America. The study quotes International Trade Commission research which found that in 2004, U.S. inputs accounted for 11 percent of the value of U.S. apparel imports.

Monday was day 154 of the commission’s unofficial 180-day shot clock for review of SoftBank/Sprint. Following the schedule, the commission would be on target to make a decision in early June, as Clyburn’s tenure as chairman likely gets under way. But, industry officials said Monday confirmation of Tom Wheeler as chairman appears unlikely before late summer, and that could mean the deal could be all but wrapped up and waiting for FCC action for several months if the agency waits for Wheeler. In April, Dish made a counteroffer for Sprint worth $25.5 billion (CED April 16 p1). Last year, Sprint accepted an offer from SoftBank, a $20.1 billion bid for 70 percent ownership.

They will have had six months to make the changes necessary to comply with the new rule, the agency said. That six-month interval reflects the fact that “the Commission took into account the costs and burdens of complying with the Rule” and it was “analyzing the public comments and adopting the final amendments,” the letter said. Additionally, the six-month period between issuance and implementation of the updated rule mirrors that of the interval between issuance and implementation of the original rule, the commission wrote.

Monday was day 154 of the commission’s unofficial 180-day shot clock for review of SoftBank/Sprint. Following the schedule, the commission would be on target to make a decision in early June, as Clyburn’s tenure as chairman likely gets under way. But, industry officials said Monday confirmation of Tom Wheeler as chairman appears unlikely before late summer, and that could mean the deal could be all but wrapped up and waiting for FCC action for several months if the agency waits for Wheeler. In April, Dish made a counteroffer for Sprint worth $25.5 billion (CD April 16 p1) . Last year, Sprint accepted an offer from SoftBank, a $20.1 billion bid for 70 percent ownership.

They will have had six months to make the changes necessary to comply with the new rule, the agency said. That six-month interval reflects the fact that “the Commission took into account the costs and burdens of complying with the Rule” and it was “analyzing the public comments and adopting the final amendments,” the letter said. Additionally, the six-month period between issuance and implementation of the updated rule mirrors that of the interval between issuance and implementation of the original rule, the commission wrote.