CBP has posted its first agricultural annual report, which covers fiscal year 2010.The report provides a high level overview of two key areas, CBP agriculture inspection statistics and resulting enforcement action statistics. The report also provides information regarding accessing the new Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Stakeholder Registry, which is due to begin in May 2011.
The following hearings, markups, or meetings are scheduled for April 15, 2011:
Department of Transportation Secretary LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Babbitt have announced that effective immediately, FAA will place an additional air traffic controller on the midnight shift at 27 control towers around the country that are currently staffed with only one controller during that time, after an incident at Reno-Tahoe International Airport when a controller fell asleep while a medical flight was trying to land.
On April 4, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin spoke at the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) Annual Conference, where he discussed the need to expedite how legitimate goods move through the ports, including trimming transaction costs, and coordinating with other government agencies1.
Nvidia is expected to add Samsung Electronics to its list of smartphone suppliers using the Tegra 2 processor, industry sources said. The Tegra 2, expected to produce $400 million to $600 million in revenue this year, is at the heart of Motorola’s Atrix 4G and LG Electronics’ Optimus 2X smartphones and is said to be close to landing a fourth smartphone supplier, sources said. The Tegra chips posted $50 million to $60 million in revenue in 2010, short of a $200 million goal because many products featuring Google’s honeycomb and gingerbread operating systems were postponed to this year (CED Feb 18 p3). Michael Hara, senior vice president of investor relations, declined to comment. Nvidia is expected to ship the Kal-El Tegra 3 chip in Q4 featuring a quad-core design and manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. using a 40-nanometer design. The Tegra 3, which will be 3D-capable, will support resolutions up to 2,569 x 1,600 and feature a 12-core Nvidia graphics processor. Nvidia also will add to its ARM-based processors through 2014, sources said. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang received $598,442 in base salary, and total compensation valued at $5.27 million, up from $3.48 million a year earlier, according to the company’s proxy statement. Huang got stock options valued at $3.25 million, down from $3.47 million the previous year, when he voluntarily cut his base pay to $1. Huang was paid a $401,272 base salary in fiscal 2009.
On April 5, 2011, Secretary of Transportation LaHood released a report highlighting the Department of Transportation's accomplishments and impediments to developing the U.S. marine highway system. The report also notes industry suggestions to encourage its use, such as a shipper tax credit and waiver of the Harbor Maintenance Tax.
The State Department gives notice that on March 11, 2011, it received an application from the General Services Administration for a Presidential Permit to authorize the reconfiguration and expansion of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) on the U.S.-Mexico border at Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. GSA has informed the Department that it plans to release its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding this project to the public on June 3, 2011. GSA released a draft EIS in June, 2010, which is available here. Comments on this application are due by 14 days after the GSA Regional Administrator reaches his/her Record of Decision (anticipated by July 2011).
A dismal budget climate shouldn’t preclude support for broadband in tribal lands, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Tuesday. Inouye, the Appropriations Committee’s chairman, signaled that he would support increased FCC funding for that purpose. Advocates for Native American communities sought additional broadband funding, including through the Universal Service Fund and a new Native Nations Broadband Fund.
Rovi launched Internet-connected TV field trials with Samsung LCD sets for an advertising platform its expects to expand across “multiple” CE brands, said Jeff Siegel, senior vice president of advertising. The test, which will include independent third-party consumer research, will run through late August and involve canvassing Internet TV owners to glean viewing habits and other data, Siegel said. Rovi expects to gain “tens of millions” of ad impressions during the trial which will involve TVs, Blu-ray players and other Internet-connected devices, he said.
The FCC Wireless Bureau sought comment on a rulemaking on various proposals and issues on greater use of communications spectrum on Tribal lands. The FCC approved the NPRM at its March 3 meeting. Comments are due May 19, replies June 30.