The U.S. filed appeals against four World Trade Organization dispute panel rulings that found the U.S. Section 232 national security tariffs on steel and aluminum violated global trade rules. The U.S. said during the Jan. 27 meeting of the dispute settlement body it will take the case to the Appellate Body -- the next tier of the WTO's dispute settlement system that stands defunct due to U.S. refusal to seat members on the body over reform concerns.
The National Emergency Number Association said Friday it’s making available for 911 call center use four public service announcements to promote “the rewarding and meaningful jobs available in the emergency-communications field.” The PSAs “can be used in recruiting and hiring efforts to reach candidates and educate them about the benefits of a career in 9-1-1,” NENA said. “We want to attract the best and brightest individuals to our profession, and these videos highlight how our first responders make a huge difference in people’s lives,” said NENA CEO Brian Fontes.
Despite national security concerns, technology sharing with Chinese academic institutions can continue to reap benefits, said Meia Nouwens, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. But Nouwens, speaking during a Jan. 26 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing, said academics and technology executives "lack clarity" around what work they can and should be collaborating on with Chinese colleagues. Universities and industry need more government guidance on what's allowed, she said.
The U.S. will appeal a World Trade Organization dispute panel ruling that found its origin marking requirement for goods from Hong Kong violated global trade rules. Submitting its notification of appeal during the Jan. 27 meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body, the U.S. said it was taking the matter to the defunct Appellate Body concurrent with separate panel rulings that said the Section 232 national security tariffs also violated WTO commitments.
The U.S. filed appeals against four World Trade Organization dispute panel rulings that found the U.S. Section 232 national security tariffs on steel and aluminum violated global trade rules. The U.S. said during the Jan. 27 meeting of the dispute settlement body it will take the case to the Appellate Body -- the next tier of the WTO's dispute settlement system that stands defunct due to U.S. refusal to seat members on the body over reform concerns.
The State Department announced Thursday said Anna Gomez has been named to lead U.S. preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference, which starts Nov. 20 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates. Gomez will also serve as a senior adviser for international information and communications policy at State. Gomez was at one point widely rumored as a candidate for FCC commissioner. She was a lawyer at Wiley and previously served as deputy administrator of the NTIA and deputy chief of the FCC International Bureau. “WRC-23 will be tackling a range of issues aimed at facilitating new and emerging terrestrial and space-based technologies that can connect people everywhere, including spectrum for next generation mobile broadband systems, satellites, maritime and aeronautical services, and scientific applications,” said a news release: “WRC-23 is a significant opportunity to advance the United States’ interests related to telecommunications, innovation, economic growth, and national security.” Gomez’s “extensive experience and her proven track record in government oversight of spectrum management makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the U.S. Representative to WRC-23,” said CTIA President Meredith Baker. “During her tenure at NTIA she has advocated for expanding broadband access for all Americans, and at the FCC she worked extensively on critical international issues,” Baker said: “She has been a champion for consistency across agencies and has the leadership skills we need to ensure America continues to lead in wireless.”
Citing “serious flaws” in the rates database for the FCC’s rural healthcare telecom program, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday the agency is fixing the issue "for good" (see 2301230045). Commissioners during their open meeting adopted an order on reconsideration and NPRM on streamlining and improving the program's funding mechanism. Commissioners also denied several petitions for reconsideration as moot. Also approved 4-0 was an NPRM about extending 911-like outage reporting requirements to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Reply comments largely tracked initial comments on an FCC NPRM on proposed rules for making the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alerts more secure (see 2212270048). FCC commissioners approved an NPRM 4-0 in October (see 2210270058). Replies were due Monday in docket 15-94. “As demonstrated throughout the record, the Commission should not adopt the cybersecurity proposals in the NPRM,” said CTIA: Participating carriers “implement WEA-specific technical standards and have robust cyber risk management plans that cover WEA operations, making the proposed certification requirement unnecessary.” The Competitive Carriers Association agreed with CTIA that the record is clear. “Instead, the Commission should promote the success and security of the WEA program in other ways including through collaborative multistakeholder security improvement processes,” CCA said: “Imposition of onerous new regulatory burdens that make WEA less flexible, more difficult, and disproportionately more costly for smaller and regional carriers to administer may potentially undermine participation in the WEA program.” USTelecom also urged a light-handed approach by the FCC. “Rather than create a new regime, the Commission should find ways to achieve its goals within the context of a harmonized, whole-of-government approach, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other government partners, as well as industry,” USTelecom said. The group noted CISA is already looking at when incidents should have to be reported: “Additional requirements, at this time, before the dust has settled, risk further fragmenting reporting requirements across the federal government, frustrating the Commission’s interest in working with its federal partners.” Opposition wasn't unanimous. The FCC won’t impose a significant burden on providers by requiring annual security certifications, said the Center for Internet Security. “The required risk management plan consists of nothing more than implementing [security standards] in a timely manner as part of normal operations,” the center said: “There is essentially no cost associated with implementing these controls, and a requirement for annual self-certification to the FCC would likely involve at most an on-line submission or completion of a two-page template with check-off boxes.” Broadcasters and cable companies also raised concerns. “It is imperative … that any changes to the EAS rules are proportionate to the needs of the EAS ecosystem and consistent with evolutions in broadcast infrastructure,” said Gray Television: “Gray shares the concern of several commenters that many of the proposals in the NPRM are not justified and could prove counter-productive by imposing unnecessarily burdensome obligations on broadcasters. At the same time, Gray wholeheartedly endorses the proposal of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to permit EAS Participants to virtualize certain elements of their EAS operations.” As comments show, “the Commission should take care when creating any new EAS monitoring or reporting requirements to ensure that the new rules are clearly necessary and that EAS Participants continue to have sufficient time to evaluate any potential issues regarding failure of, or unauthorized access to, their EAS system and facilities,” said Altice USA: “Any new rules also should allow the greatest possible flexibility in cybersecurity policies and practices so that Participants can tailor them to the unique needs of their networks.”
Two businessmen -- Russian national Vladislav Osipov and British national Richard Masters -- were charged for their roles in a sanctions evasion and money laundering scheme connected with the ownership and operation of the $90 million superyacht Tango, DOJ announced. The yacht is owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Per the terms of the indictments unsealed Jan. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Osipov and Masters are accused of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and commit offenses against the U.S., violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and money laundering, DOJ said.
The Supreme Court of the U.S. held oral arguments on Jan. 17 over Turkish state-owned Halkbank's claims that the U.S. judicial system does not have the jurisdiction to hear criminal cases against foreign governments and their state-owned entities. Halkbank is attempting to shirk prosecution over its efforts to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The bank's arguments received a mixed reaction from the Supreme Court, with numerous justices expressing doubt over the plaintiff's claims that it is immune from criminal prosecution under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. U.S., #21-1450).