CBP has issued its weekly tariff rate quota (TRQ) and tariff preference level (TPL) commodity report as of January 21, 2009. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, tobacco, certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (Weekly commodity report available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
The Transportation Security Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration) have issued separate final rules, effective December 26, 2008, to enhance the security of the rail transportation system.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a one-year progress report on its implementation of the Food Protection Plan.
The Treasury Department and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (agencies) have issued a joint final rule, effective January 19, 2009 (with certain delayed compliance) to implement applicable provisions of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
Four members of the FCC pledged to work together on broad intercarrier compensation and Universal Service Fund reform, for a vote at the Dec. 18 FCC meeting. The four cited growing consensus on several issues teed up for decision, in a statement they all signed. But FCC Chairman Kevin Martin questioned whether his colleagues will really be ready to reach a decision in December. The letter was released just before midnight Wednesday, as the FCC responded to a writ of mandamus by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit addressing the so-called ISP remand (CD Nov 6 p1).
The Department of Homeland Security is doing a poor job of overseeing establishment of a new information-sharing system to be used worldwide by any entity partnering with DHS, the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday. The Next Generation Homeland Security Information Network, now being developed, should be in place and running in September 2009, but DHS lacks proper acquisition management controls to do that, GAO said. Proceeding without such controls, as DHS has, puts the system at risk for failure, GAO said. “In our view, engaging a contractor and commencing work before implementing mature controls is not a recipe for success,” the report said, and without those controls, “the project will be at increased risk of operating in an ad hoc and chaotic manner -- potentially resulting in increased project costs, delayed schedules, and performance shortfalls.” An existing DHS-run information sharing system provides federal, state, local, tribal, private and international partners access to sensitive, unclassified information, as well as chat and instant messaging tools, a document library and interest-specific news articles, links and contact information. That system has drawn criticism for its effectiveness, and HSIN Next Gen is supposed to replace it. GAO did the study in response to a request from Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
The FCC is seeking estimates on costs to hire event planners to organize DTV outreach events attended by commissioners and senior staffers, and to have civic groups install DTV converter boxes and otherwise help consumers. A request for quotations, due Oct. 21, “seeks grass root organizations” and community groups “including faith-based organization location” offers to help people get and install converters and other DTV equipment. Another RFQ, with a closing date of Monday, seeks 10 event planners to organize town-hall style meetings, workshops and other events for regulators to attend in 82 areas where the FCC is stepping up viewer education (CD Aug 19 p1).
The FCC is seeking estimates on costs to hire event planners to organize DTV outreach events attended by commissioners and senior staffers, and to have civic groups install DTV converter boxes and otherwise help consumers. A request for quotations, due Oct. 21, “seeks grass root organizations” and community groups “including faith-based organization location” offers to help people get and install converters and other DTV equipment. Another RFQ, with a closing date of Monday, seeks 10 event planners to organize town-hall style meetings, workshops and other events for regulators to attend in 82 areas where the FCC is stepping up viewer education (CED Aug 19 p2).
States, but not local governments or public safety answering points, should be able to get grants under the E-911 Grant Program authorized by the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004, NTIA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The act authorizes a five-year, $1.25 billion grant program. But Congress only appropriated $43.5 million for a one-year program. “The agencies believe that $43.5 million would not have a meaningful impact on E-911 services if the funds were divided into small grants among a large number of grantees,” NHTSA and NTIA said. “Therefore, we believe that limiting the applicant pool is necessary to ensure that benefits are realized, and that States are best positioned to make wise resource deployment decisions within their borders.” However, states would have to allow active participation by local governments, tribal organizations and PSAPs. States also would have to ensure that 90 percent of funds are used for PSAPs’ direct benefit. State grants would be based on population. California’s minimum grant would be $2.8 million, vs. $250,000 for American Samoa. Comments are due Dec. 2.
THQ Wireless signed a five-year deal making it exclusive world distributor of branded titles by U.K. sports games publisher Player One for mobile handsets, THQ said Friday. The Java and BREW games, set for 2008/2009 launch, include Pool Star-Atlantic City, Phil Taylor’s Power Darts 2008, Pokermillion -- The Masters, Tribal Baseball, Ronnie O'Sullivan Snooker, Table Tennis Star, Premier League Snooker, Michael Vaughan Pro Cricket, Freddie Flintoff’s Powerplay Cricket and the new Ernie Els Golf, THQ said. Other terms weren’t disclosed.