The Federal Communications Commission fined a Chinese company $34.9 million for allegedly marketing​ 285 models of signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers. C.T.S. Technology marketed the devices through its Aiswa.com website, the FCC said (here). “These devices, which were advertised for sale to U.S. consumers, were designed to disrupt a variety of communications systems, including all major cellphone networks, Wi-Fi systems, and even Global Positioning System channels," said the forfeiture order approved by the agency's commissioners. “Some of the more dangerous devices were advertised as having the capacity to jam communications for a distance of over one-half mile.” The FCC said the company sold some of the devices to FCC investigators posing as consumers and shipped the equipment to the U.S. C.T.S. Technology didn't comment. When the fine was proposed, the FCC said it was the biggest in its history (see 14062016).

The ACE pilot on filing of data required by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expected to end in June, said CBP (here), presumably opening up FSIS for full ACE filing. That will be followed in July by the end of ACE pilots on filing of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service “core” (i.e., non-Lacey Act) data and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) data. CBP has set a July 23 deadline for all entries and entry summaries under most entry types in ACE (see 1605200034). Pilots for APHIS Lacey Act, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data are already over, with filing now open to all.

Import data for goods regulated by the Federal Communications Commission can be filed through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) until July 1, when a waiver of FCC Form 740 requirements takes effect, the commission said Jan. 6 (here). The FCC issued the notice as a clarification of its plans to waive the requirements when the Automated Commercial System (ACS) is shut down and the use of ACE is required for electronic filing (see 1510190056), it said. "The Commission’s characterization in the Order of CBP’s ACS as the current system used for filing Form 740 information has been misinterpreted by some affected parties."

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The data collection requirements for importers of FCC-regulated goods is unclear for June-December next year, Intel said during a meeting with the FCC on Dec. 10 (here). Intel "recommended that the FCC not require collection or reporting of the information contained in Form 740 either during or after this period" and should rely on existing CBP processes. The company also "stressed importers should have the flexibility to manage their own records and develop internal controls for monitoring noncompliant devices." The FCC recently said it plans to waive its Form 740 certification requirements for radio frequency devices imported between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2016 (see 1510200035). Industry responses to the plan to do away with the Form 740 were largely positive, though Boeing noted it considers the government collections of the information to be a useful compliance tool (see 1510130057).

The Federal Communications Commission published a notice (here) in the Federal Register on the agency's plans to waive its Form 740 certification requirements for radio frequency (RF) devices imported between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2016. (see 1510200035). The temporary waiver allows time for the FCC to consider its proposal to eliminate importer declaration requirements entirely (see 1508110024), without imposing new burdens on importers that would otherwise be forced to file on paper once CBP's Automated Commercial Environment is required, the FCC said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices for Nov. 2 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

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The Federal Communications Commission will temporarily waive its Form 740 certification requirements for radio frequency (RF) devices imported after CBP's Automated Commercial Environment becomes mandatory for FCC entries on July 1, it said in an order issued Oct. 19 (here). The waiver, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2016, allows time for the FCC to consider its proposal to eliminate importer declaration requirements entirely (see 1508110024), without imposing “significant burdens” on importers that would otherwise be forced to file on paper once ACE is required, the FCC said. Given the complexity of the FCC rulemaking, it’s possible the commission will be “unable to reach and publish a final determination” by July 1, when CBP will no longer accept electronic filing of FCC Form 740 via its legacy Automated Commercial System, it said.

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