In the May 22, 2009 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 43, No. 21), CBP published a notice proposing to revoke four rulings and associated treatment, as it has now determined that the spring- and release-assisted knives are prohibited from entry under the Switchblade Knife Act.

There are several non-DTV media items that FCC and industry officials believe can soon be addressed by the agency under acting Chairman Michael Copps, even as eighth- floor media aides spend most of their time on the digital transition. Our survey of about a dozen FCC officials, outside lawyers and industry executives found they think a vote on a video programming order for News Corp. circulated on Kevin Martin’s last workday as chairman (CD Jan 27 p3) is likely to take place under Copps’ so-called consensus agenda.

Whether health IT is a boondoggle or salvation depends on how it’s implemented, speakers said on a conference call Friday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and fellows from the Center for American Progress laid out what they believe must be done to ensure the health IT provisions of the Recovery Act provide the improved care and decreased costs promised. Whitehouse again warned of “tragic cuts” that will have to be made in the near future if healthcare costs aren’t contained, with health IT being part of that containment strategy.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals incorrectly characterized the Section 230 defense for interactive computer services in a recent decision (WID May 12 p3), said an amicus brief Thursday asking it to delete the relevant portion. The Center for Democracy and Technology, Public Citizen, Citizen Media Law Project and Electronic Frontier Foundation filed the brief in Barnes v. Yahoo. In its decision the court said district courts shouldn’t allow Communications Decency Act Section 230 defenses to be raised on a motion to dismiss, the brief said. “This dictum is not only contrary to the Court’s precedent, but threatens significant mischief, both by throwing the Court’s precedents into question and by forcing immune providers of interactive computer services to defend tort suits on the merits while they wait for district courts to decide motions for judgment on the pleadings.” At the least, the dictum could cause confusion in lower courts, the brief said. It supported Yahoo’s petition for rehearing to remove the dicta.

There are several non-DTV media items that FCC and industry officials believe can soon be addressed by the agency under acting Chairman Michael Copps, even as eighth- floor media aides spend most of their time on the digital transition. Our survey of about a dozen FCC officials, outside lawyers and industry executives found they think a vote on a video programming order for News Corp. circulated on Kevin Martin’s last workday as chairman is likely to take place under Copps’ so-called consensus agenda.

Whether health IT is a boondoggle or salvation depends on how it’s implemented, speakers said on a conference call Friday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and fellows from the Center for American Progress laid out what they believe must be done to ensure the health IT provisions of the Recovery Act provide the improved care and decreased costs promised. Whitehouse again warned of “tragic cuts” that will have to be made in the near future if healthcare costs aren’t contained, with health IT being part of that containment strategy.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice seeking comments on Canada and Mexico's May 7, 2009 request for additional World Trade Organization consultations on certain U.S. mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements.

The International Trade Commission has issued a report entitled, Sub- Saharan African Textile and Apparel Inputs: Potential for Competitive Production, which states that Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have the greatest potential to be competitive in the production of cotton yarn, fabric, and other textile and apparel inputs, but they face numerous challenges.

The FCC faces growing pressure from Congress to look into special-access prices. That’s a recurring theme of wireless carriers led by Sprint Nextel, which call the costs of linking their cell sites to their networks the largest expense of providing backhaul. Special-access prices were a consistent theme at a the House Communications Subcommittee hearing this month. The FCC could act quickly by releasing a public notice seeking data from carriers that has been at the commission since May 2008, FCC officials said.

"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a regular feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions.