The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing new filing requirements at time of entry for imports of certain species of seafood the agency has deemed high-risk (here). Conceived as part of an administration-wide strategy to combat illegal, unreported and unregistered (IUU) fishing and seafood fraud (see 1503160016), filers would have to submit through the Automated Commercial Environment certain data elements and electronic documents in order to improve traceability of imports of the high-risk species. The importer of record would also have to maintain records on the chain of custody of their seafood imports, and obtain an International Fisheries Trade Permit for the high-risk species. Comments on the proposal are due April 5.
House Communications Subcommittee lawmakers zeroed in on practical details of getting FirstNet up and running Tuesday, peppering President TJ Kennedy with questions during an oversight hearing. They scrutinized the recent release of FirstNet’s request for proposals and wanted details on the state opt-out process, monetization and ultimately the affordability for those who want to use the public safety broadband network.
House Communications Subcommittee lawmakers zeroed in on practical details of getting FirstNet up and running Tuesday, peppering President TJ Kennedy with questions during an oversight hearing. They scrutinized the recent release of FirstNet’s request for proposals and wanted details on the state opt-out process, monetization and ultimately the affordability for those who want to use the public safety broadband network.
Harman is “exposed to some customer concentration risks,” said investment research company Zacks in a blog post Thursday after release of the company’s Q2 fiscal 2016 results. Harman’s quarterly revenue was up 12 percent year over year to $1.8 billion, but the company’s stock price plummeted during the day to a 52-week low of $66.38 before closing down Thursday 13 percent at $69.01. Harman’s top four customers generate half of its revenue, said Zacks. The post cited Audi/Volkswagen, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota/Lexus as “significant” revenue sources for Harman, while noting the company recently linked with Alphabet’s Google and Microsoft on IoT partnerships. Harman is likely to benefit from growing automotive production globally especially as production of autonomous vehicles begins, said Zacks. Harman’s cloud platform and scalable technology are “gaining popularity” with the increase in connected cars and will help drive revenue, said Zacks, and the company continues to expand on the back of its strategic partnerships. It said. Harman’s new manufacturing capacities, “growing product pipeline, solid patent portfolio, new awards as well as product launches are expected to boost the top line and profitability in fiscal 2016." Harman secured $2 billion in new automotive contracts in the quarter from Subaru and Hyundai, said CEO Dinesh Paliwal on a Thursday earnings call. Sales in the connected car division increased 2 percent to $737 million from the year-ago quarter, while professional solutions fell 7 percent to $249 million, the company said. Lifestyle audio sales jumped 20 percent to $625 million. Earlier this week Harman opened a 188,000-square-foot North American automotive headquarters in Novi, Michigan. The facility's 1,000 employees will develop advanced technology solutions for the connected car and autonomous driving, said the company.
The FCC approved a report saying broadband isn't being rolled out broadly enough or quickly enough to meet a statutory deployment mandate. The commission action at its Thursday meeting wasn't a surprise after Chairman Tom Wheeler circulated a draft report with a negative finding (see 1601070059). Democratic colleagues supported the report and its conclusion, with one backing an even higher broadband standard, but one Republican dissented and the other concurred while faulting the FCC for failing to bring about more broadband deployment. Key House Republicans and major wireline and wireless telco groups were among those criticizing the report, with USTelecom calling it “not believable.”
The FCC approved a report saying broadband isn't being rolled out broadly enough or quickly enough to meet a statutory deployment mandate. The commission action at its Thursday meeting wasn't a surprise after Chairman Tom Wheeler circulated a draft report with a negative finding (see 1601070059). Democratic colleagues supported the report and its conclusion, with one backing an even higher broadband standard, but one Republican dissented and the other concurred while faulting the FCC for failing to bring about more broadband deployment. Key House Republicans and major wireline and wireless telco groups were among those criticizing the report, with USTelecom calling it “not believable.”
On Jan. 27 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
Vizio landed the assignment Tuesday of a U.S. design patent (D748,075) for an undescribed “audio device,” Patent and Trademark Office documents show. The patent, which was applied for in August 2014, lists Scott McManigal, Vizio vice president-design, as the inventor. A series of six drawings in the patent depicts a rectangular box with an HDMI input and appears to show speakers at either end and three buttons at the top. To us, the renderings appear to be those of a soundbar, or perhaps a Bluetooth speaker that can also be used as a soundbar. Vizio representatives didn’t comment.
House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., joined with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Wednesday at the Woodbridge Community Center in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, to discuss emergency communications concerns and his legislation on that topic. “Fewer and fewer families have land line phones in their homes, so we count on our cell phones working,” Pallone said in a statement. “We need to be able to call for help and reach loved ones to make sure they are safe during hurricanes like Sandy or during snow storms like the one we are expecting this weekend.” On Twitter, Pallone thanked Rosenworcel “for joining me today to push for improved telecom network resiliency during emergencies” and later Wednesday posted a photo of himself and counsel David Goldman meeting with Vonage employees in a town hall meeting on telecom and other issues at Vonage’s Monmouth County facility in New Jersey. “Now we need to take the lessons learned in the aftermath of [Superstorm Sandy] and make our networks more resilient -- and our communities more safe,” Rosenworcel said.
House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., joined with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Wednesday at the Woodbridge Community Center in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, to discuss emergency communications concerns and his legislation on that topic. “Fewer and fewer families have land line phones in their homes, so we count on our cell phones working,” Pallone said in a statement. “We need to be able to call for help and reach loved ones to make sure they are safe during hurricanes like Sandy or during snow storms like the one we are expecting this weekend.” On Twitter, Pallone thanked Rosenworcel “for joining me today to push for improved telecom network resiliency during emergencies” and later Wednesday posted a photo of himself and counsel David Goldman meeting with Vonage employees in a town hall meeting on telecom and other issues at Vonage’s Monmouth County facility in New Jersey. “Now we need to take the lessons learned in the aftermath of [Superstorm Sandy] and make our networks more resilient -- and our communities more safe,” Rosenworcel said.