The FCC Wireline Bureau exceeded its delegated authority when it adopted a quantile regression methodology that imposes unreasonable burdens on rural LECs, applies support limits randomly, and will fail to provide incentives for efficient operations, several rural telecom associations said in a petition for commission-level review Friday (http://xrl.us/bm9ege). The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, OPASTCO, the National Exchange Carrier Association and the Western Telecommunications Alliance have accused the bureau of acting in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner, and have asked for a stay of the methodology and initial caps adopted by the bureau in its April 25 order until the commission can respond to its petition for review (http://xrl.us/bm9eg7).

The Food and Drug Administration announced the availability of a guidance for industry entitled “Meeting with Industry and Investigators on the Research and Development of Tobacco Products,” which describes FDA’s current policies and recommendations on FDA meetings with tobacco manufacturers, imports, researchers, and/or investigators relating to their plans to conduct research to inform the regulation of tobacco products, or support the development or marketing of tobacco products. FDA said this guidance does not pertain to other types of meetings or meeting requests with Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) staff. FDA is requesting comments on the guidance, which may be submitted at any time. FDA is also asking for comments, due by July 24, 2012, on two proposed information collections on (i) recommended materials to be included in such a meeting request, and (ii) recommended materials to be included in a meeting information package.

BOSTON -- Usage-based data pricing can spur competition in broadband, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said of ISPs’ moves to systems not always charging flat prices regardless of consumption. NCTA CEO Michael Powell asked Genachowski about the practice in a Q-and-A Tuesday at The Cable Show, noting ISPs of all sorts, including cable operators, are starting to charge based on consumption. “Business model innovation is very important, particularly in new areas like broadband,” Genachowski replied. The commission’s 2010 net neutrality order allowed such practices. Nonprofits that backed the order criticized Genachowski’s remarks, while AT&T supported the comments.

The Labor Department said it accepted and will review a submission by the AFL-CIO and 27 Honduran civil society and worker organizations alleging violations of the Labor Chapter of the Dominican Republic--Central America--U.S. Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) by the government of Honduras. Labor’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) will issue a public report, including findings and recommendations, to the Secretary of Labor within 180 days, unless circumstances require an extension of time.

Google’s business practices raise four antitrust issues the European Commission wants addressed “in a matter of weeks,” Competition Policy Commissioner Joaquín Almunia said Monday. The EC probe, which began in November 2010, has uncovered several activities that may be considered abuses of dominance, he said. The search engine company said it disagrees with the conclusions but is “happy to discuss” them. Almunia stressed that Google has repeatedly told him it wants to talk rather than engage in adversarial proceedings. Two U.S. lawmakers and the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) said they hope Google takes advantage of the EC’s willingness to allow the company to clean up its act before formal proceedings launch.

CBP continues to consider combining Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) with C-TPAT, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David Aguilar said during a House May 17 hearing on Customs issues . He also said critical fixes to already deployed ACE capabilities are among the major goals for CBP in the coming year. E-Manifest: Rail and Sea (M1), simplified entry, and the integration of export capability are also top priorities, he said in response to questions following his written testimony.

NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling was grilled by House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., over allegations that broadband grants pay for expensive, unnecessary telecom equipment for small libraries and schools in West Virginia. Walden told a subcommittee hearing Wednesday that he has two primary concerns with the Rural Utilities Service programs: “They appear to fund the same aims as the Universal Service Fund … and I am concerned about [their] performance.” Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and full Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., hailed NTIA’s decision to partially suspend seven public safety grants following the creation of FirstNet.

Claims and counter-claims about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement flew Wednesday at a lively European Parliament Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee workshop on the controversial treaty. Much of the criticism of ACTA is based on very selective readings of its text, said Anders Jessen, head of unit for public procurement and intellectual property (IP) at the European Commissioner for Trade Directorate. He constantly urged foes to cite chapter and verse on where the agreement allegedly violates fundamental rights.

Different entertainment industry quarters found different ways for the FCC Media Bureau to interpret the terms “multichannel video programming distributor” and “channel” as they relate to new entrants in the video distribution business. In comments responding to a Media Bureau public notice that asked how to interpret such terms (http://xrl.us/bm723b) cable operators largely opposed an expanded interpretation of the terms that would cover companies who use the Internet to deliver video to subscribers.

Different entertainment industry quarters found different ways for the FCC Media Bureau to interpret the terms “multichannel video programming distributor” and “channel” as they relate to new entrants in the video distribution business. In comments responding to a Media Bureau public notice that asked how to interpret such terms (http://xrl.us/bm723b) cable operators largely opposed an expanded interpretation of the terms that would cover companies who use the Internet to deliver video to subscribers.