The Court of International Trade on Oct. 21 sent back the Commerce Department's de jure specificity finding regarding exporter Kaptan Demir Celik Endustrisi ve Ticaret's exemption from Turkey's 0.2% Banking and Insurance Transactions Tax on foreign exchange transactions. Judge Gary Katzmann said that, in the 2020 review of the countervailing duty order on Turkish rebar, the agency failed to show that the exemption was limited by enterprise or industry.

Addressing tribal issues is important, but it shouldn’t slow the rollout of the $9 billion 5G Fund that FCC commissioners approved in August, the Competitive Carriers Association said in comments posted Friday in docket 20-32. Commissioner Brendan Carr dissented on the 5G Fund item, which included a Further NPRM on tribal issues (see 2408290022). Tribes and their associations commented on the importance of cooperation with tribal governments (see 2410170045).

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to grant certiorari earlier this month in a case from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates v. McKesson, could have implications beyond the FCC’s legal interpretation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, legal experts told us. SCOTUS began its current term Oct. 7.

The Court of International Trade on Oct. 21 remanded the Commerce Department's 2020 review of the countervailing duty order on rebar from Turkey. Judge Gary Katzmann said Commerce failed to support its finding that exporter Kaptan Demir Celik Endustrisi ve Ticaret's exemption from Turkey's 0.2% Banking and Insurance Transactions Tax on foreign exchange transactions was de jure specific, noting the agency didn't establish the tax exemption was limited by enterprise or industry. Katzmann also sent back Commerce's rejection of a report prepared by Cushman & Wakefield to value land used for free by Kaptan's affiliated supplier. The judge said Commerce didn't base its rejection of the report "on a sound legal basis."

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe urged the FCC to increase the budget in Phase I of the 5G Fund, with a tribal set-aside, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 20-32. Commissioners approved a $9 billion fund in August on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Brendan Carr dissenting (see 2408290022). The Minnesota tribe also stressed tribal engagement. “Early engagement and inclusion is critical to reach 100% of … citizens residing in the Tribal lands,” the filing said.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr watched the Sunday launch and landing of SpaceX's Starship heavy launch rocket. "A historic day here in Texas. The most powerful rocket ever built. And an extraordinary booster catch back at the pad. Amazing to see," Carr posted Sunday on X along with short video clips.

The EU's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which could take effect for some companies Dec. 30, may violate World Trade Organization rules and should be modified to ensure it's compliant, according to a new policy brief released by the European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE).

A number of Canadian softwood lumber exporters, on one side of a case, and, on the other, defendant-intervenors led by a domestic trade group, filed in total three briefs supporting their respective motions for judgment (see 2404110063) in a case involving the Commerce Department’s alleged misapplication of the transactions disregarded test to increase the costs of a review’s mandatory respondent (Government of Canada v. United States, CIT Consol. # 23-00187).

The EU's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which could take effect for some companies Dec. 30, may violate World Trade Organization rules and should be modified to ensure it's compliant, according to a new policy brief released by the European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE).

ISPs in 24 states could face business challenges in the next decade from the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program’s low-cost offering requirement if the FCC further moves the needle on what it defines as broadband, NCTA state affairs lead Rick Cimerman said Wednesday. In addition, Jennifer Fritzsche, Greenhill analyst, said she expects consolidation among rural wireline companies akin to what happened with numerous regional wireless operators. They spoke at the Broadband Nation Expo that the Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network organized.