CE makers and retailers plan to ask Congress to allocate some funds from post-DTV transition spectrum sales to kickstart national e-waste recycling. E-waste recycling has “more of a link” to the transition than “other projects they are using that money for,” said CEA Environmental Counsel Parker Brugge. Industry believes Congress will allocate money only if packaged with a long-term e-waste recycling solution, he said.
The Washington File reports that Democratic lawmakers say the Bush administration needs to enforce U.S. trade laws more forcefully and negotiate more equitable trade deals to address the U.S. trade deficit and protect the welfare of U.S. workers. The article adds that during a February 14, 2007 hearing, Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee, joined by some Republicans, expressed frustration over what they perceive as the administration's inability to address the growing U.S. trade deficit and unfair competition from other countries. (Washington File Pub 02/14/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070214160027saikceinawz0.398266)
CBP has issued its weekly tariff rate quota (TRQ)/tariff preference level (TPL) commodity report as of February 26, 2007. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, tuna, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa powder, tobacco, certain BFTA, CAFTA-DR, JFTA, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, CAFTA-DR, CBTPA, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA (Chile FTA) TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly TRQ/TPL commodity report, dated 02/26/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report entitled US-VISIT Program Faces Strategic, Operational, and Technological Challenges at Land Ports of Entry to Congressional Requestors.
Inmarsat’s total revenue for 2006 was more than $500 million, the company said in its preliminary year-end results report. It expects to formally report its earnings for 2006 April 27, it said. Inmarsat had 7% growth in the maritime sector, with maritime data growing 11% year over year, it said. Land sector revenue was down 5% year over year, it said. Inmarsat expects the addition of a handheld satellite phone will improve results in 2007, allowing it to enhance its land voice service offering and “win new customers.” Inmarsat CEO Andrew Sukawaty said Inmarsat will continue to migrate older users from analog to digital services, freeing up spectrum. He played down fluctuations in usage, noting that many subscribers use Inmarsat as a backup service so there will be times of “heavy service” and times when some subscribers are only testing the service. Inmarsat said it’s pleased with its BGAN service, with Sukawaty noting it wasn’t “priced aggressively” because “we did not want a mass migration.” Inmarsat said it’s “committed to ensuring” that its Swift aeronautical product will be available by the end of the year, when airlines have indicated they want to begin testing in-flight services, he said. Launch of Inmarsat’s 3rd Inmarsat4 satellite is being arranged with Lockheed Martin, but will probably slip to 2008, said Sukawaty.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice and press release announcing that it is further delaying the March 1, 2007 effective date for the collection of agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees for commercial trucks and railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada until June 1, 2007.
FCC designated entity (DE)rules guarantee minority investors will avoid spectrum auctions, said Mosaic Partners, a new minority investors group. A filing by the group, which last week began meeting with agency officials, came as the FCC contemplates rules for the 700 MHZ auction, which could begin as early as summer.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the third group of land border ports to become mandatory for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) electronic manifest: Truck (e-Manifest: Truck1) for advance cargo information purposes will be those in Michigan and New York effective May 24, 2007.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice which announces the phased enforcement of mandatory Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) electronic manifest: Truck (e-Manifest: Truck) for advance cargo information purposes at all land border ports in California, New Mexico, and Texas beginning April 19, 2007.
The Defense Information Systems Agency renewed a contract worth as much as $70 million with Artel for satellite services to the U.S. Central Command. Artel will get $70 million if 3 one-year options pan out. It will provide satellite connectivity, real-time and proactive monitoring, and control over day-to-day configuration of the leased bandwidth, earth terminals and land-based interconnection, it said.