Setting a firm deadline for DTV transition and clearing the 700 MHz band of broadcast operations is essential to satisfy public-safety spectrum needs, the wireless industry and public safety officials agreed in comments to the FCC. But safety officials said that, while valuable, the spectrum allocated in the 700 MHz band and elsewhere isn’t enough for safety-oriented users. The wireless industry disagreed, saying emergency response providers’ biggest challenge isn’t how much spectrum they have, but how best to use spectrum already allocated. They said instead of allocating more spectrum, the govt. should help finance emergency response communications networks and advanced public safety solutions.
The FCC International Bureau Fri. approved a controversial sale of Tyco Telecom’s undersea cable system to VSNL Telecom, pending conditions. The firm’s sought FCC approval to assign Tyco’s interests to VSNL for 2 cables that land in the U.S.: Tyco Atlantic and Tyco Pacific. Crest Communications opposed the sale for national defense and competition reasons. VSNL is majority owned by the Indian govt. and a large Indian company. However, the Justice Dept., Homeland Security Dept. and Defense Dept. said in an April 11 petition they could sign off on the deal if the FCC added conditions agreed to by VSNL, the bureau said. The bureau said Crest’s concerns weren’t sufficiently convincing to turn down the petition. “We defer to the Executive Branch’s expertise on national security and law enforcement issues” and grant the petition with the requested conditions, the bureau said. The FCC public notice announcing the approval didn’t spell out the conditions. However, press reports at the time said the conditions involved security measures such as a guarantee the U.S. govt. can continue to install authorized wiretaps on the network. The proposed sale to VSNL was announced in Nov. and the FCC action was considered the last step in the approval process.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the April 2005 issue of its U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modernization newsletter which discusses, among other things, CBP's plans regarding the implementation of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Release 4 (Truck Manifest) at ports in western Washington.
American Shipper reports that a recent study sponsored by the Port of Long Beach shows that containerized cargo volume at Los Angeles-Long Beach is expected to triple in 25 years. To adjust for this expected growth, the article states that larger vessels are being introduced by ocean carriers, and ports are adjusting their berth space to accommodate them; however, land-side infrastructure improvements are not keeping pace. (American Shipper, May 2005, www.americanshipper.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a memorandum which it states clarifies Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) invoice policy and other release issues.
During U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) recent Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Supply Chain Security Training Seminar in Miami, FL, CBP Commissioner Bonner spoke about a number of C-TPAT-related issues, including:
American Shipper reports that in a March 8, 2005 letter, the National Council on International Trade Development (NCITD) asked U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Director of the Office of Trade Relations to invigorate CBP's export department and fill the vacant export program officer position at CBP Headquarters. (American Shipper, dated April 2005, www.americanshipper.com.)
Five Rivers Electronic Innovations expects to file a bankruptcy reorganization plan by June as it moves to recover from a downturn in the direct-view CRT business and Philips’ scrapping its LCoS development program, company officials said.
DualDisc will make its European debut today (Mon.) on schedule, as a result of a last-minute deal between DualDisc stalwart 5.1 Entertainment and DVDplus International, which holds patent monopoly to hybrid DVD/CD technology in Europe. The 5.1 labels are cleared for landing in the EU following a licensing agreement posted Fri., in which 5.1 Chmn. John Trickett and DVDplus inventor and principal Dieter Dierks pledged mutual cooperation to develop and promote the flipper-disc concept.
Silverstar Holdings said it acquired PC game maker Strategy First through a Montreal bankruptcy court for about $600,000 cash, issuance of about 400,000 shares of common stock and assumption of about $400,000 in bank debt. Silverstar also noted “contingent consideration based on the future profitability of Strategy First,” but didn’t provide specifics. Silverstar CEO Clive Kabatznik said the deal “marks the initial step toward implementing our strategic plan to become an owner and operator of a broad range of fee-based electronic game companies.” He said “we strongly believe that the fee-based electronic game industry, and in particular the online element of this industry, is one of today’s most exciting business opportunities” -- one that “can provide excellent shareholder value.” Kabatznik noted that Strategy had operated profitably before filing for bankruptcy last year; the combined firm “will continue to seek additional growth opportunities, both organically and through acquisition.” Strategy’s best-known games included Disciples: Sacred Lands and Jagged Alliance. Silverstar also owns Fantasy Sports and has a stake in Magnolia Broadband.