The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the U.S. has suspended plans to include the Dominican Republic in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) after Dominican lawmakers passed a 25% import tax on corn syrup during the week of September 20, 2004. (JoC Online, dated 09/28/04. www.joc.com.)
A group of cities and states known as the Spectrum Coalition argued Thurs. for an additional 10 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for a wireless broadband public safety network. In an event in the Rayburn Bldg., the coalition demonstrated to Capitol Hill staff an interoperable wireless broadband system where public safety officers could use video and voice to relay important information to each other. The demonstration featured the pilot program used now in Washington, D.C., which operates on an 18-month experimental license granted by the FCC. The public safety sector was already granted 24 MHz of spectrum, currently occupied by analog broadcasters. But Robert LeGrande, D.C. deputy chief technology officer, said that allocation would be fine for radio interoperability, narrowband communications and wideband text-based messaging, but the additional 10 MHz would be needed for a wireless video system for police and fire fighters. Many at the presentation praised Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) for his SAVE LIVES Act, which was amended Wed. (CD Sept 23 p1). One Senate source told us McCain’s bill would require a study by SAFECOM in the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) on public safety’s spectrum needs. The Senate source described the 700 MHz band as “beach-front property” and said: “They're not getting any more spectrum until they prove to us they need it.” Rep. Norton (D-D.C.) said the 9/11 Commission Report, which recommended returning some of the 700 MHz band spectrum to public safety, would help catalyze support in Congress. However, she said that after McCain’s bill was amended in a manner favorable to broadcasters, she “wondered if the delay will go on eternally.” Norton said: “This is our best chance.” The Spectrum Coalition includes: The cities of Denver, L.A., Philadelphia, San Diego, Phoenix and D.C.; the states of Tex., Ariz. and Ohio; and the U.S. Park Police. APCO and several other fire and police organizations are supporting members of the coalition.
The FCC’s context-based ruling Wed. on Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl performance (CD Sept 23 p3) raised First Amendment concerns, which are likely to end up being battled out in the courts, attorneys said. “The Commission clearly has tried hard to come up with a positive smile,” said Media Access Project Pres. Andrew Schwartzman: “But it’s almost impossible to do this ruling without getting into First Amendment issues.”
Federal agency efforts to enforce intellectual property trade agreements other than through a longstanding review process have been largely unsuccessful, a Hill panel was told Thurs. The Govt. Accountability Office (GAO), asked by the House Govt. Reform Committee to examine the issue, told the committee in a report and testimony that inter-agency govt. efforts such as the National Intellectual Property law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC) has failed to make a dent in the billions of dollars the content industry loses every year to piracy abroad, which the Internet is enabling. Rep. Simmons (R-Conn.), testifying at the hearing as a witness, put it in stronger terms: “You can pass all the laws you want but if there’s no enforcement… if there’s no punishment for doing that, it’s a worthless piece of paper.”
Analog broadcasters won’t face a Senate Commerce Committee deadline to vacate their spectrum -- unless they're Univision, Paxson or a few others. In its markup Wed., the Senate Commerce Committee approved 13-9 an amendment from Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.) that replaced much of Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain’s (R-Ariz.) proposal -- known as the SAVE LIVES Act -- to set a 2009 deadline for all broadcasters to vacate the analog spectrum. Instead, the Committee approved a 2008 deadline for broadcasters on analog spectrum approved for public safety. NAB said it would affect 75 broadcasters, including many Paxson and Univision stations. Several senators said there were doubts whether the legislation would pass this year because Congress is focusing on appropriations and elections.
The Senate Judiciary Committee cancelled its scheduled markup for today (Thurs.) without giving reason. S-2560 by Chmn. Hatch (R-Utah) and ranking Democrat Leahy (Vt.) was on the agenda, along with other items. The bill would impose liability on an entity willfully enabling copyright infringement. Computer & Communications Industry Assn. Pres. Ed Black wrote Commerce Dept. Undersecy. Phil Bond Wed. opposing the bill, saying the agency should understand that if S-2560 becomes law, the content industry will launch “a wave of law suits.” Black urged the Commerce Dept. to discuss the bill with the Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s not clear when the committee will hold another markup, but Hatch said at a markup Tues. he wants to expedite passage of S- 2560.
Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) will propose a $1 billion subsidy for DTV converter boxes when the Committee takes up new legislation designed to set a 2009 deadline for broadcasters to vacate the analog spectrum. The Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill tomorrow (Wed.) The bill relies on estimates that auction proceeds from that portion of the 700 MHz band of spectrum could net the govt. $30-$70 billion and quotes both testimony from FCC Chmn. Powell and New America Foundation figures.
Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) will propose a $1 billion subsidy for DTV converter boxes when the Committee takes up new legislation designed to set a 2009 deadline for broadcasters to vacate the analog spectrum. The Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill Wed. The bill relies on estimates that auction proceeds from that portion of the 700 MHz band of spectrum could net the govt. $30-$70 billion and quotes both testimony from FCC Chmn. Powell and New America Foundation figures.
An effort to attach $70 million in funding for interoperable public safety equipment to the Homeland Security Dept. (DHS) appropriations bill failed Thurs. on a mostly party-line vote. Sen. Boxer (D-Cal.) pushed an amendment to the bill that would have taken $70 million from DHS funding for a human resources system and created a grant program for states and localities. Boxer said the DHS funding bill contained no specific funding for interoperability and had only $31 million for interoperability R&D. During her floor remarks, Boxer said the bill didn’t raise the overall spending and used an offset to compensate. However, Sen. Cochran (R-Miss.) argued that the bill already had $2.85 billion for states in grants, which could be used equipment and training, including interoperability equipment. Cochran said the fund couldn’t be used for construction. The grant program has steered $680 million to Cal. since 2002, Cochran said. Cochran argued the states should be flexible in how they want to spend the funding: “To make a judgment as to how they should use the money now and earmark certain parts for specific functions is beyond our ability to really make the decisions and make them in a correct way that serves the final goal, the objective of an improved national homeland security program.” On a party-line vote, Republicans tabled the amendment 46-45, with Senate Commerce Committee McCain (R-Ariz.) voting for the amendment.
Broadband, including VoIP, will be among many issues addressed next week in U.S.-U.K. and U.S.-European Commission (EC) talks in Europe, top govt. officials told us. A U.S. delegation led by the State Dept.’s David Gross -- and comprising top officials from the FCC (Comr. Abernathy, International Bureau Deputy Chief Anna Gomez, and staff members Tracey Weisler and Allan Thomas), Commerce Dept. (NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher), Justice Dept., U.S. Trade Representative and Dept. of Homeland Security -- is heading to Europe tomorrow (Sat.) for a week-long mission. It will meet with the British delegation headed by David Hendon of the U.K. Dept. of Trade & Industry in London Sept. 14-15 and with the EC delegation led by Fabio Colasanti, dir. gen. of the Information Society, in Brussels Sept. 17. It will also participate in the Digital Economy Workshop, hosted by the European American Business Council in Brussels Sept. 16.