Sirius deems the PERFORM Act introduced in the Senate (S-2644) “not very consumer-friendly,” and though it would be “presumptuous” to predict the bill’s fate, “we would be very surprised if there was any movement” on it, CEO Mel Karmazin told analysts Tues. in a Q1 earnings call.

Sirius deems the PERFORM Act introduced in the Senate (S-2644) (CED April 28 p6) “not very consumer-friendly,” and though it would be “presumptuous” to predict the bill’s fate, “we would be very surprised if there was any movement” on it, CEO Mel Karmazin told analysts Tues. in a Q1 earnings call.

Prospects are good for passage of a telecom bill the President can sign this Congress, House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) told a Tues. National Journal breakfast. “Their bill is not all that far away from ours,” Upton said, referring to a Senate telecom bill introduced Mon. (CD May 2 p1). That bill, especially its franchise provision, offers a “hook” to get something into conference where the 2 can be reconciled, Upton said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the Wassenaar Arrangement's December 2005 agreement to revise the formula for calculating computer performance from Composite Theoretical Performance (CTP) measured in Millions of Theoretical Operations Per Second (MTOPS) to Adjusted Peak Performance (APP) measured in Weighted TeraFLOPS (Trillion Floating point Operations Per Second) (WT).

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a final rule, effective May 24, 2006, which amends 9 CFR 381.196(b) by adding China to the list of countries eligible to export processed poultry products from approved sources to the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule that would amend 19 CFR Parts 24 and 111 by increasing the fees charged for certain customs inspectional services under section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA).

Self-labeled copyfighters are girding for battle with House IP Subcommittee Chmn. Smith (R-Tex.) and Judiciary Chmn. Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) over the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006, circulating in draft form at Smith’s behest (WID April 25 p7). The bill would increase penalties for copyright infringement and add intent to infringe as a punishable offense on the same level as actual infringement. It would also classify as “trafficking” possession of devices that circumvent DRM tools with intent to distribute, a provision that has a prominent security researcher up in arms. Current law bans actual distribution of such devices, not private use for research.

Mocking what it termed other filers’ “nonsensical” read of the Copyright Act, DoJ said in a file-sharing brief Fri. that Internet distribution clearly comes under the Act’s treatment of the distribution right pertaining to “material objects.” The Elektra v. Barker defendant and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have said the definition of “copies and phonorecords” in the law excludes network transmission of copyrighted works, a claim that spurred DoJ to tell the U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y. it might intervene (WID April 6 p12). Court precedent and congressional intent line up with its argument, DoJ said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has posted guidance on importing and exporting shellfish, fish, and fishery products. FWS states that it has issued this guidance because of confusion about its exemption of certain imports and exports of certain shellfish and fishery products from port, declaration, and clearance requirements.

Citing forecasts that the hurricane season beginning in June will be as destructive as last year’s, communications and electric power providers have urged President Bush to ensure that key telecom and power personnel be designated as emergency responders. The Telecom & Electric Power Interdependency Task Force (TEPITF) set up by the National Security Telecom Advisory Committee (NSTAC) has recommended several “near-term” measures that “require immediate” action from the federal govt. Telecom qualified for zero priority in power restoration in the Gulf states ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and also were hobbled in service restoration efforts by EPA restrictions on diesel storage and generator exhaust emissions as well as security issues(CD Oct 11 p3).