House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., said he's told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that he's concerned that some businesses were not able to take advantage of a 90-day deferral to pay duties. “Because of the economic circumstances we find ourselves in, I think providing some relief on that front is sensible,” he said to International Trade Today in a brief hallway interview at the Capitol May 15.
Senate Commerce Committee members signaled interest in including further emergency broadband funding in the next COVID-19 package. Some senators urged their colleagues to think beyond the crisis. The Wednesday hearing featured few references to House Democrats' Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (Heroes) Act (HR-6800), which contains substantial broadband funding. The bill also includes language to make broadcasters and other local outlets eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. Both issues drew increasing support since the March enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (see 2004300058). The House is expected to vote on HR-6800 as soon as Friday.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau’s report Tuesday on the 2019 nationwide emergency alert system test shows the test’s largest problem was a failure to retransmit by the source stations that are monitored by other broadcasters (see 1908070074). The simulation “was successful in that it demonstrated that the nationwide broadcast-based EAS distribution system would largely perform as designed, if activated without the availability of the Internet” but also revealed some deficiencies, the report said. More than 2,600 test participants, 13.3%, reported they didn't receive a signal from their monitored sources, the report said. FCC staff found many participants included incorrect information in their filings to the emergency test reporting system, with hundreds of broadcasters giving the wrong EAS designation for their stations. The report showed participation in the test slightly increased to 78.6% from 76.3% in 2018. Radio broadcaster participation improved to 82% from 78.7% and TV increased to 68.2% from 65.5%. Participation by cable systems, IPTV and wireline video systems fell to 73.4% from 76.4%. The report also laid out the bureau's plans to address issues with the test, such as encouraging EAS participants to monitor multiple sources to reduce failures. Due to the complications with monitoring assignments and inaccurate reporting, the bureau will “engage in further analysis of the 2019 test performance” and state EAS plans, the report said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also taking steps to improve the test, the document said. “To ensure more accurate origination of national messages, FEMA intends to review and update its alert origination procedures, as well as conduct additional testing.”
Some telecom companies taking part in the FCC Keep Americans Connected pledge are warning of mounting KAC costs -- hundreds of millions of dollars so far -- from not disconnecting subscribers for unpaid bills during the pandemic. Analysts said in interviews this month they don't expect expenses to be material -- for now. Chairman Ajit Pai asked telecom providers to extend their pledges through June (see 2004300044).
Decrease in User Fees Hitting CBP's Budget; About $72 Million in Duties Were Deferred, Official Says
The travel limitations imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a big hit to CBP's budget due to the decrease in corresponding user fees, said Thomas Overacker, CBP executive director, Cargo and Conveyance Security, while speaking on the virtual National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones conference on May 12. CBP is actively looking for ways to cut spending as a result. Overacker said the northern and southern border restrictions are scheduled to expire on May 20 (see 2004210046) and that there's been no indication that the restrictions will be extended again.
The Federal Communications Commission granted a waiver for GE Healthcare to import, market and operate medical devices from new suppliers for use in healthcare facilities. The devices hadn’t been cleared under FCC equipment authorization rules. The order “benefits the public interest by allowing GEHC to overcome disruptions in the medical device supply chain as it addresses the surge in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the declared state of national emergency,” a May 11 order by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology said.
The FCC granted a waiver for GE Healthcare to import, market and operate medical devices from new suppliers for use in healthcare facilities. The devices hadn’t been cleared under FCC equipment authorization rules. The order “benefits the public interest by allowing GEHC to overcome disruptions in the medical device supply chain as it addresses the surge in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the declared state of national emergency,” said a Monday order by the Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology.
Domestic violence calls to 911 continue to rise amid the coronavirus even though more public safety answering points report lower call volume overall, the National Emergency Number Association reported Monday. NENA polled about 500 emergency number professionals. Nearly half said dispatches increased for domestic violence incidents; more than 40% said dispatches about disturbed persons rose. About 75% reported decreasing 911 call volume over the past three weeks, compared with half in a NENA report last month (see 2004130032). About 39% said their PSAP had quarantined or sent home employees due to either COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold a virtual meeting May 21 to discuss with industry the terms of a potential agreement to produce personal protective equipment, FEMA said in a notice. The agreement would “maximize the effectiveness of the distribution of critical health and medical resources nationwide” to respond to pandemics, FEMA said, including establishing terms for coordination between the federal government and PPE manufacturers. “The agreement would establish the terms, conditions, and procedures under which participants agree voluntarily to contribute and facilitate health and medical resource production and distribution capacity as requested by FEMA,” the agency said. FEMA is currently overseeing export control decisions on U.S. shipments of PPE (see 2004210022).
The U.S. needs a clearer strategy for leading 5G and artificial intelligence standards-setting to counter China’s growing tech leadership, technology experts said. The Trump administration should define a strategy and work with allies to set global standards, the experts said, or risk forcing its companies out of global markets because of restrictions placed on China.