The National Institute of Standards and Technology posts drafts and changes to foreign technical regulations for manufactured products that may be considered technical barriers to trade. Broker Power delays its publication of these postings for 2-3 weeks because there is often a delay until NIST makes the text of the regulations available.
The FCC Wireline Bureau approved a transfer of control from Wavecom Solutions Corp. to Hawaiian Telcom of domestic and international Section 214 authorizations, a cable landing license, and various wireless licenses, according to the FCC’s order (http://xrl.us/bn8ozn). The commission said the potential competitive harms from the transaction are “limited,” and the transaction is likely to generate public interest benefits: The transaction will enhance Hawaiian Telcom’s network by augmenting next-generation fiber capacity, and will put Wavecom on “a more solid financial footing."
The FCC adopted a report and order Friday on rules to support the deployment of Internet services on airplanes. The action establishes earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA) as a licensed application for communication with fixed satellite service (FSS) stations, the FCC said in a news release (http://xrl.us/bn8cbe). “Rather than have to license on-board systems on an ad hoc basis, airlines will be able to test systems that meet FCC standards, establish that they do not interfere with aircraft systems, and get FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] approval.” The decision also launched a rulemaking seeking comments on a proposal “to elevate the allocation status of ESAA in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band from secondary to primary,” making the ESAA allocation equal to the allocations of earth stations on board vessels (ESV) and vehicle-mounted earth stations (VMES), it said.
The FCC should retain its longstanding policy that requires Section 214 applications from non-WTO member countries to meet the requirements of the effective competitive opportunities test, AT&T told the commission Wednesday (http://xrl.us/bn77uh). The policy behind the test is to encourage non-WTO member countries to open their markets and join the WTO, which is “even more important today in light of the demonstrated role that competition and liberalization play in stimulating investment and use of the networks that are the building blocks of the information based economy of the 21st century,” the telco wrote. AT&T recommended a “modified” test for smaller countries that may not be able to meet the requirements of the current analysis. The commission should retain the “key requirement” of the test, AT&T said: that U.S. carriers have the legal right to obtain a controlling interest in a facilities-based carrier in the country to originate and terminate international traffic in the country. But it should eliminate requirements to show that “an effective regulatory framework exists in the foreign country to develop, implement and enforce legal requirements, interconnection arrangements and other safeguards, and that competitive safeguards exist in the foreign country to protect against anticompetitive practices,” AT&T said. The test should also address the ability to own and access submarine cable capacity landing in these countries, AT&T said.
The FCC’s Public Safety and Wireless bureaus approved New York City’s request for a waiver of the FCC’s Jan. 1 VHF/UHF narrowbanding deadline for many of the radio systems operated by city agencies. With a key deadline a few days away, waiver applications continue to be filed at the agency. FCC officials have warned that many licensees haven’t moved their systems and haven’t sought waivers, which could lead to FCC penalties down the road. The FCC also granted narrowbanding compliance waiver requests this week sought by Philadelphia and Chicago, addressing waiver requests by two other big systems that have struggled to make the changes required by the agency.
Apple landed a patent on the design of a “mini-SIM connector" that allows SIM cards to be removed and prevents damage to the card. The connector uses a “plunger” system to eject the SIM card and contains “contacts that are not damaged by improper insertion of a SIM card,” according to a patent abstract the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published Tuesday. Apple applied for the patent, No. 8,337,223, in September 2010 (http://xrl.us/bn73jd).
The two former top officials of the Evergreen, Colo.-based recycling firm profiled in a 60 Minutes expose on e-waste exports to developing countries were convicted Friday on federal charges of pocketing millions by illegally shipping tons of hazardous CRT TVs to China. Brandon Richter, former CEO of Executive Recycling, and Tor Olson, the firm’s vice president of operations, likely will be sentenced in April, local TV stations reported.
The FCC will provide broadband for nearly 75,000 low-income people who lack service, in 14 projects across 21 states and Puerto Rico as part of its Lifeline broadband adoption pilot program. It'll run 18 months, start Feb. 1 and subsidize service for a year, the Wireline Bureau said Wednesday (http://xrl.us/bn68f8). The bureau will collect and analyze data in the final three months, it said. The variety of projects will include five wireless broadband projects, seven wireline broadband projects and two that'll offer wireline or wireless, the FCC said. Seven will test discounted service in rural areas, including two on tribal lands, and seven in urban and suburban areas. Tested variables will include use of digital literacy training, equipment types, subsidy levels, speed ranges and usage limits, the bureau said. Lifeline has saved more than $210 million in 2012, the bureau said, saying that’s higher than its target. The FCC reiterated its Lifeline reforms, such as eliminating Link-Up subsidies and putting in place measures to limit one Lifeline subsidy per household. The broadband adoption pilot will cost $14 million, to come from the overall Lifeline savings, the commission said. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said in a separate news release she was pleased with the FCC’s expansion of the Lifeline program for universal broadband adoption. “We must close the digital divide in this country and the FCC moving forward today to establishing a broadband adoption pilot program through the USF will move us closer to that goal,” she said.
The FCC will provide broadband for nearly 75,000 low-income people who lack service, in 14 projects across 21 states and Puerto Rico as part of its Lifeline broadband adoption pilot program. It'll run 18 months, start Feb. 1 and subsidize service for a year, the Wireline Bureau said Wednesday (http://xrl.us/bn68f8). The bureau will collect and analyze data in the final three months, it said. The variety of projects will include five wireless broadband projects, seven wireline broadband projects and two that'll offer wireline or wireless, the FCC said. Seven will test discounted service in rural areas, including two on tribal lands, and seven in urban and suburban areas. Tested variables will include use of digital literacy training, equipment types, subsidy levels, speed ranges and usage limits, the bureau said. Lifeline has saved more than $210 million in 2012, the bureau said, saying that’s higher than its target. The FCC reiterated its Lifeline reforms, such as eliminating Link-Up subsidies and putting in place measures to limit one Lifeline subsidy per household. The broadband adoption pilot will cost $14 million, to come from the overall Lifeline savings, the commission said.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for Dec. 19 (Note that some may also be given separate headlines.)