The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America issued on February 11, 2009 an email notice stating that NCBFAA subject matter experts (SMEs) are working with senior managers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection to answer additional questions on the recent startup of the Importer Security Filing (ISF). In response to forwarded questions (additional questions can be sent to eid@ncbfaa.org ), NCBFAA states that (partial list):

Newly revised online behavioral advertising principles from the FTC proved disappointing to some privacy advocates, who said they do little to increase consumer protection. Industry groups, however, applauded the FTC’s commitment to self-regulation and vowed to work with stakeholders to improve the self-regulatory regime. The principles, released Thursday, are the result of consideration of public comments submitted after the staff wrote proposed principles following a November 2007 town hall on online behavioral advertising.

The World Trade Organization frequently posts communications to WTO members on issues that involve the U.S. The following are short summaries of such issues for January 2009:

Michael Copps wants to “cultivate predictability” by making “fact-based” decisions with information gathered “neutrally” by career FCC staffers, he said at his first news conference as acting chairman. He said the commissioners will be included by meeting more often with bureau staffers and by getting options memos, drafts of orders and other documents about the time he does. The changes have started with more-frequent meetings and with commissioners getting items ahead of time (CD Feb 11 p3), FCC officials said. But Copps said change will take time and he hasn’t finished culling lists of long-pending items that bureaus gave him at his request so he can decide what to dispose of.

CBP has posted Amendment 33 to the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document. According to CBP, the CATAIR has been amended as follows:

A rule prohibiting “registered lobbyists” from service in the administration of Barack Obama opens the door wide to many company and industry officials who those outside Washington otherwise would view as lobbyists. The rules have some questioning whether they are arbitrary and a bar to only a select group of lobbyists, or an imperfect but still useful bright line addressing concerns about the “revolving door” between business and government.

The FCC commissioners said they want to handle in an open way the DTV switch and the four-month postponement of the analog cutoff (CED Feb 5 p1). At the commission meeting Thursday, devoted to the transition, they said the change won’t be seamless, but the June 12 switch will benefit from preparation discussions that are public and include business and agencies such as the NTIA. The delay is prompting worry about the supply of digital converter boxes and the growing backlog of requests for coupons for them. The CEA acknowledged supplies could soon run out.

The FCC commissioners said they want to handle in an open way the DTV switch and the four-month postponement of the analog cutoff (CD Feb 5 p1). At the commission meeting Thursday, devoted to the transition, they said the change won’t be seamless, but the June 12 switch will benefit from preparation discussions that are public and include business and agencies such as the NTIA. The delay is prompting worry about the supply of digital converter boxes and the growing backlog of requests for coupons for them. The CEA acknowledged supplies could soon run out.

Motorola lost $3.6 billion in Q4 on weaker sales, versus a year-earlier profit of $100 million. The manufacturer, looking toward a turnaround in 2010, suspended its dividend, announced the departure of Chief Financial Officer Paul Liska, and the second delay of its planned separation. On a conference call Tuesday, co-CEO Sanjay Jha warned of a weak Q1 and further weakness in handset sales.

Sprint Nextel sided with AT&T and Verizon Wireless in urging the FCC not to regulate exclusivity arrangements between wireless carriers and handset makers. The Rural Cellular Association had petitioned the commission in May to investigate the “widespread use and anticompetitive effects” of the arrangements and to propose appropriate rules. Small carriers and small carrier groups, and the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, filed in support of RCA’s petition.