Small carriers and their associations, pressing the FCC to impose interoperability mandates on devices that will make use of 700 MHz spectrum, said they're making headway at the commission and at the White House. Smaller carriers said that, based on their discussions with equipment makers, handsets could prove expensive and difficult to find without this requirement. A few view this as their top issue now before the FCC.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces the availability of the final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for High Energy X-Ray Inspection Systems (HEXRIS) at sea and land ports of entry for public review through November 5, 2010. Based on the final PEA, a determination was made that the proposed action will not significantly affect the human environment such that further analysis is required. Therefore, a FONSI was issued, and no Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The International Trade Commission has issued its report, “Andean Trade Preference Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and Consumers and on Drug Crop Eradication and Crop Substitution, Fourteenth Report, 2009,” in which it states that ATPA imports during 2009 continued to have a negligible overall effect on the U.S. economy and consumers.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) issued a press release on September 29, 2010, announcing that ABB Ltd, a Swiss corporation, and two of its subsidiaries, have resolved charges related to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including $19 million in criminal fines and $39 million in disgorgement, pre-judgment interest and civil penalties for settlement of a related matter with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
There’s a window for broadcasters to come up with their own guidelines on indecency standards amid regulatory and judicial uncertainty over FCC enforcement of the current rules for radio and TV, Commissioner Robert McDowell said Thursday. Before the courts sort out the commission’s authority, “this is an opportunity for the broadcasters to step into the breach,” he told industry executives and lawyers at the NAB radio show. “So I would call upon you to do that."
DALLAS -- While waiting for the economy and consumer confidence to improve, P.C. Richard & Son will continue to open new stores, President Gregg Richard told Consumer Electronics Daily at the NATM Buying Corp. conference here. It has opened 13 in the last year and a half or so, and two more will soon open, he said. The company is “setting ourselves up” to be perfectly positioned once the economy rebounds, he said.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued two notices that either reissue or revoke an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:
The slow pace of standard development of Project 25, the public safety wireless communications program, is impacting adoption and competition, witnesses said at a House Technology Subcommittee hearing Thursday. The standard for digital land mobile radios is intended to further seamless public safety communications interoperability and provide for the efficient use of limited spectrum resources.
On September 22, 2010, House Republicans issued a new legislative agenda they will use if they gain control in Congress after the November elections. Highlights of the House Republican agenda, called “A Pledge for America,” include: