| FCC Announces Broad Review
of Media Ownership Rules |
9/12. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) adopted, but did not
release, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to
its various broadcast ownership rules. Instead, it issued a
short press
release [PDF] in which it stated that it "initiated
the third Biennial Regulatory Review of Broadcast Ownership
Rules" to "develop ownership rules and policies that
are reflective of the current media marketplace, are based on
empirical evidence, and are analytically consistent."
The FCC release further states that the NPRM "addresses
all of the media ownership rules related to use of the
broadcast spectrum".
This proceeding is another element of the FCC's current trend
of relaxing media ownership rules, and allowing for more media
consolidation.
The NPRM covers six different sets of media ownership rules.
First, there is the FCC's Newspaper Broadcast Cross Ownership
Prohibition. This is already the subject of a NPRM initiated
last fall. (This is Docket No. MM 01-235.)
There are also competing bills in Congress on this subject. On
July 17, 2001, Sen.
Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Sen. Daniel Inouye
(D-HI), and Sen. Byron
Dorgan (D-ND) introduced S
1189, a bill to require the FCC to amend its daily
newspaper cross ownership rules. Sen. Hollings stated that at
the time that "This legislation is necessary to stem the
tide toward concentration in the broadcast and newspaper
industries and force a thorough and reasoned examination of
the claims that further consolidation will serve the public
interest." In contrast, at the same time, Rep. Clifford Stearns
(R-FL) introduced HR 2536,
a bill to reduce restrictions on media ownership.
Second, this NPRM addresses the Local Radio Ownership rules.
This is also the subject a pending NPRM. (This is Docket No.
MM 00-244.)
This NPRM also addresses the National TV Ownership rule, and
the Local TV Multiple Ownership rule, both of which are
currently on remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir).
Finally, this NPRM addresses the Radio/TV Cross Ownership
Restriction and the Dual Television Network Rule.
The FCC release also states that "the FCC has
commissioned a number of empirical studies examining the
current state of the media marketplace, including how
consumers use the media, how advertisers view the different
media outlets, and how media ownership affects diversity,
localism and competition. The results of these studies will be
released in the coming weeks." Then, comments will be due
60 days after release of the studies, and reply Comments will
be due 30 days after the initial comment deadline. This means
that the comment period may close during or just after the
Christmas and New Years holiday.
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
wrote a separate
statement [PDF] in which he stressed that "Because
the stakes here are so incredibly high, it is far more
important that we get this done right than that we get it done
quickly." See also, separate
statement of FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin.
Mark Cooper, of the Consumer
Federation of America (CFA), condemned the FCC's
announcement of this NPRM. He stated in a release that
"the FCC launched the second phase in its assault on the
cornerstone of a vibrant democracy by continuing and
consolidating its campaign to eliminate or dramatically weaken
longstanding rules designed to promote diverse ownership of
media outlets and encourage an open marketplace for ideas.
What's more, the FCC is in such a rush to eliminate these
rules, they can't wait until the results of their own studies
are in. Once again the lines have been drawn between corporate
power and the public interest. And once again the public
interest has come out the loser."
The proceeding initiated by this NPRM is MB Docket No. 02-277. |
|
|
| USTA Asks USTR Not to
Export US Telecom Policies |
9/10. The Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative (USTR) held a hearing regarding
market access in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
negotiations. Walter McCormick, P/CEO of the United States Telecom Association
(USTA), testified that the USTR should not seek to include
mandatory network unbundling and TELRIC pricing in either
bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) or within a FTAA
agreement. McCormick also urged the USTR to coordinate
spectrum allocations for third generation (3G) wireless
services.
McCormick stated that "The elimination of barriers in
telecommunications markets, together with the implementation
of fair and transparent regulatory frameworks, will be
critical to the development of robust communications and
electronic commerce capabilities in all countries that
participate in the FTAA."
McCormick said that some telecommunications policies, such as
mandatory network unbundling and TELRIC pricing, are under
review in the U.S. by the Congress, courts, and Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), and should not be exported to other countries.
McCormick argued that doing so "would undermine foreign
investment incentives".
He concluded with a discussion of the importance of
"coordination of radio spectrum". He stated that the
"USTR should encourage the coordination of frequency
allocation, which will be necessary to improve international
roaming capabilities among the countries of the
Americas. International roaming capabilities will be key
to the growth of third generation (3G) wireless services
throughout the region." |
|
|
| EU Lists Products Under
Consideration for FSC/ETI Related Retaliatory Tariffs |
9/13. The European Union published a document
[14 pages in PDF] titled "Notice relating to the WTO
Dispute Settlement proceeding concerning the United States tax
treatment of Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) -- Invitation
for comments on the list of products that could be subject to
countermeasures".
On August 30, the World Trade
Organization (WTO) issued a Decision
of the Arbitrator [46 pages in PDF] in the FSC/ETI
dispute. The WTO had previously held that the United States'
Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) tax regime, and its
replacement, the Extraterritorial Income (ETI) regime,
constitute illegal export subsidies. This decision authorizes
the EU to impose $4 Billion in countermeasures, or retaliatory
tariffs.
The just released EU notice states that "In order to
elaborate the final list of products to be presented to the
WTO and which could be subject to countermeasures, the
Commission invites European Community companies, trade
associations or any other interested party in the European
Community ... to present their views and comments."
It continues that "Interested parties are hereby invited
to present their views and comments on the products covered by
the list contained in Annex A to this notice within 60 days
from the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of
the European Communities."
The attached Annex A then lists thousands of product category
numbers from the European
Union Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2002 (EUHTS). Notably,
page 12 of the EU notice lists 310 product category codes from
Chapter
85 [PDF] of the EUHTS, which pertains to "Electrical
machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and
reproducers, television image and sound recorders and
reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles".
This list includes some products of the U.S. electronics
industry. However, it does not list many other products of the
U.S. electronics and other high tech industry sectors.
The following is a partial listing of category numbers, and
the associated product descriptions, that are on the EU list:
8517 telephone equipment, 8518 microphones and speakers, 8519
cassette players and other sound producing devices, 8520 tape
recorders and other sound recording apparatus, 8521 video
recording or producing apparatus, 8523 magnetic disks, 8524 20
91 transmission apparatus for cellular networks, 8525 40 11
digital cameras, 8527 21 radio receivers, 8528 12 television
reception apparatus, 8528 21 14 video monitors, 8531 20 LCDs
and LEDs, 8532 electrical capacitors, 8533 electrical
resistors, 8535 & 8536 switches, circuit breakers, relays,
8541 21 dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), Static
random access memories (SRAMs), and FLASH E˛PROMs, 8542 29 70
interface circuits and interface circuits capable of
performing control functions, and 8548 90 10 memories in
multicombinational forms such as stack DRAMs and modules.
The EU list also includes books and newspapers.
The U.S. may avoid the imposition of EU retaliatory measures,
by repealing the ETI. Rep. Bill Thomas
(R-CA), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee, introduced HR 5095,
the American Competitiveness and Corporate Accountability Act
of 2002, on July 11, 2002, to address the WTO's rulings
regarding the FSC and ETI. See also, Rep. Thomas' summary.
However, no action has been taken on the bill. Also, there is
no replacement legislation pending in the Senate. |
|
|
| People and Appointments |
9/12. The Senate confirmed Arthur Schwab to be a
Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania by a vote of 92-0. See, Senate
Roll Call No. 216.
9/12. The Senate confirmed Timothy Corrigan to be a
Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of
Florida by a vote of 88-0. See, Senate
Roll Call No. 213. |
|
|
| More News |
| 9/12. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) announced, but did not
release, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Memorandum
Opinion and Order (MOO) regarding its telemarketing rules. The
FCC issued a press
release [PDF] in which it stated that among the questions
asked in the NPRM is whether "to revisit the option of
establishing a national do not call list and, if so, how such
action might be taken in conjunction with (1) the Federal
Trade Commission's (FTC) recent proposal to adopt a national
do not call list and (2) the various state do not call
lists." See also, statement
[PDF] of Michael Powell, and statement
[PDF] of Kathleen Abernathy. |
|
|
|
| IIPI Conference Addresses
Creation of Specialized Courts for Copyright Cases |
9/13. The International
Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI) hosted a two day
conference in Washington DC titled "Specialized
Intellectual Property Courts" on September 12 and 13. One
of the topics addressed was the creation of specialized courts
with jurisdiction over copyright law.
Bruce Lehman, the President of the IIPI, spoke at a panel on
September 12. He stated that when you try to create courts
with specialized jurisdiction "politically, you are
obviously going to have some people who don't like it. And the
strongest group of people who don't like it are usually the
members of the bar, the lawyers, who live and work in
geographical locations where the court is not going to meet. I
think this is probably a problem in Europe as they struggle
with creating specialized courts."
Lehman added that "I was around when we created the Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit. And, the way we dealt with that was that we
required it to sit in different jurisdictions throughout the
United States. So that was one solution to the problem.
Interestingly, however, even though the Court has been in
existence now for twenty years, that has turned out to be a
fairly meaningless provision of the law."
Edward
Damich [PDF], Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal
Claims, who spoke on the same panel, stated that
currently, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 2nd and 9th
Circuits handle most of the copyright cases, and their bar
associations would therefore oppose the creation of a
specialized court for copyright cases.
Judge Damich also pointed out that one criticism of
specialized courts is that "it is co-opted by the group
that is before it." He reviewed legal developments in the
Federal Circuit, and concluded that "it has not been
co-opted by the patent bar." He stated, for example, that
while the Court has been receptive to business method and
biotech patents, it has also made it very hard to show
infringement.
Michael Landau,
a professor of law at Georgia
State University Law School, argued for the creation of
specialized copyright courts in the U.S. He reviewed the
various issues where there are splits between various
circuits. He concluded that specialized courts are necessary
to create uniformity of interpretation among the different
circuits, and to ensure greater predictability.
He argued for specialized copyright trial courts, in addition
to an appeals court. However, he added, "I am not going
to hold my breath on that one."
Panelists also compared the history of the creation of the
Federal Circuit, with patent jurisdiction, to the possibility
of the creation of a specialized court with copyright
jurisdiction.
Gerald
Mossinghoff, a former head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO), related that prior to the creation of the Federal
Circuit, the business community was losing faith in the patent
system, but that the copyright system has not reached this
state.
Martin
Adelman, a professor at the George Washington University
School of Law, made the point that the Judges' view will
be taken into consideration. He also pointed out that many
judges do not want to hear patent cases, but do want copyright
cases. Judge Damich quipped that judges may not like to hear
certain types of cases, but as soon as someone suggests taking
away their jurisdiction over those cases, they develop a new
appreciation.
Randall
Rader, Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit, and Michael
Ryan, a professor at the Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business, spoke with reporters on
September 13.
Judge Rader said that "Our specialized patent
jurisdiction kind of grew out of our unique historical
experience. We had the regional split problem, the inability
of the Supreme Court to really deal with the magnitude of the
problem. Even the legislative changes of 1952 did not seem to
work. So, finally, we went to an institutional change -- the
Federal Circuit. And, it worked so well, that it has kind of
set an example, I think, for other nations in the world to try
and use similar tactics.
Judge Rader continued that "the United States model may
not be the model that works the best for every country. It may
be better to have the expertise of the judges at the fact
finding stage -- at the trial court level -- depending upon
how it works for each country. At least the principle is, I
think, sound that intellectual property enforcement is
probably best when unified. I would think that would apply to
copyright and trademarks as well. I don't think that is going
to happen quickly here in the United States, just because of,
kind of, the history, and those developed differently
here."
Michael Ryan, a professor at the Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business, stated that "there may
be a couple of factors there that might play in. One would be
the size of the country." He said that the number of
judges and size of the economy would be important. He stated,
as examples, that China or India probably could not have one
holistic intellectual property court, but Jordan or Peru
could.
Judge Rader added that "it has something to do with the
number of cases too. If you have as many patent cases as we
have, you know, about twenty-two hundred filed a year here in
the United States, patent cases. That is enough to keep this
Court, and a good many other courts plenty busy. In a country
like Jordan or Peru, they probably have fewer patent cases,
but if you combine them with the copyright, and the trademark,
and the trade secret, and the trade dress, and the other types
of cases, suddenly they have a docket that really demands
attention." |
|
|
| Judge Rader Comments on IPR
and Courts in PR China |
9/13. Randall
Rader, Chief Judge of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, addressed
enforcement of intellectual property rights in the People's
Republic of China in a meeting with reporters. He stated that
the Shanghai High Court is doing very well, but other courts
are behind.
Judge Rader, who has been to China five times since 1994,
stated that "China has places like Shanghai that just
expanding economically. And I think the correlation there is
that the Shanghai High Court has been very diligent in
enforcing contracts, and protecting intellectual property, and
resolving commercial disputes, which has formed the climate
for investment, and for growth. And, if an international
business feels that they are not working in a climate that
protects their property, they will take their business
elsewhere. And I think the best thing that can happen for an
emerging economy, or a transitioning economy, is to have a
really sound court system -- independent court system, a
competent court system. They need to learn the international
standard and enforce it."
Judge Rader, who was responding to questions from a China Radio International
reporter, continued that China "is uneven". He
continued, "Let me humbly offer this opinion. It is not
for me to judge a great nation like China. My observation is
that some places are approaching the international standard,
and working hard to achieve it."
He continued that "Shanghai I think is doing very well.
Other places are behind Shanghai, and not recognizing their
potential yet. Shanghai, Hong Kong, of course, for many years
have been economic centers, and they recognize the importance
of international investment. But, if you go more into the
western reaches of China you see less evidence of this concern
about economic -- protection of economic rights."
He was asked what are the most pressing problems that China
needs to address. Rader responded, "it is all somewhat
interconnected, but I do think you need more judicial
resources, you need to train those resources. We are talking
about judges, but it stretches beyond judges. You need
policemen. You need customs authorities. You need legislatures
and law makers who will make their laws conform to the laws of
TRIPS, who will provide the funding for the courts, who will
provide the funding for the customs officers. It is a national
commitment to make their economic institutions work. And, our
narrower focus is on judicial capacity and judicial resources.
But, we recognize that judges will only become independent and
capable if they have the support of their governments, their
police forces, their justice ministries, their societal
framework in general."
Judge Rader also stated that "I have seen progress. Each
time I go back more judges are becoming educated in
intellectual property. And I have seen a growing effort to
enforce economic rights." |
|
|
| IIPI Report Argues IP
Courts are Critical for Economic Growth |
9/12. Michael Ryan, a professor at the Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business, and Albena Petrova, of the International Intellectual
Property Institute (IIPI), wrote a report titled
"Judicial Capacity Regarding Intellectual Property --
Enforcement and Dispute Settlement".
The two argue that "capitalist, market based economies
owe their successes in part to effective social institutions,
governments and courts. ... Courts are becoming increasingly
appreciated as critical institutions for economic success. We
contend that growth in the developing and transitioning
economies of Latin America, Africa, eastern Europe, the Middle
East, Asia, and the Pacific critically rests on the capacities
of courts and judges to enforce commercial rights and resolve
commercial conflicts."
The report argues that "increased specialization by
judges and courts can help manage challenges of complexity
..." It also argues that "the establishment of
specialized IP courts composed of knowledgeable, fair judges,
adequately supported through transparent, meritocratic
processes, who are well-paid, who are empowered with bench
authority, yet made accountable to the public and their
elected representatives will over time earn legitimacy."
It concludes that "the establishment of specialized
intellectual courts is an emerging trend in the world economy.
The logic of the organizational demands of building judicial
capacity to manage knowledge, achieve efficiency, and earn
legitimacy with respect to IP enforcement and dispute
settlement suggests that specialized IP courts may become
ever-more common around the world."
The 120 report was published by the IIPI. It was sponsored by
the USPTO. |
|
|
| About Tech Law Journal |
Tech Law Journal publishes a free access web site and
subscription e-mail alert. The basic rate for a subscription
to the TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert is $250 per year. However, there
are discounts for entities with multiple subscribers. Free one
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Contact: 202-364-8882; E-mail.
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Privacy
Policy
Notices
& Disclaimers
Copyright 1998 - 2002 David Carney, dba Tech Law Journal. All
rights reserved. |
|
|
|
| Monday, September 16 |
Yom Kippur.
Neither the House nor the Senate will be in session.
Deadline to submit comments and notices of intention to
participate to the Copyright
Office in response to its notice
in the Federal Register directing "all claimants to
royalty fees collected in 1999, 2000 and 2001 for the
distribution of digital audio recording devices and media to
submit comments as to whether a controversy exists as to the
distribution of the royalty fees in the 1999, 2000 and 2001
Musical Works Funds."
Deadline to register for the FCC's September
18 auction seminar for Auction No. 46. This is for the
1670-1675 MHz band auction, scheduled for October 30, 2002.
See, notice
with registration form [PDF]. |
|
|
| Tuesday, September 17 |
The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour and at 2:00
PM for legislative business. No votes are expected before 6:30
PM. The House will consider a number of measures under
suspension of the rules.
The Senate will meet at 9:30 AM for morning business. It will
resume consideration of the Interior Appropriations Act at
10:30 AM. It will recess for weekly party conferences at 12:30
PM. It will resume consideration of the Homeland Security Act
at 2:15 PM. It will resume consideration of the Interior
Appropriations Act at 4:15 PM.
8:00 AM EDT. Qwest
Communications will web cast a meeting between investors
and Ch/CEO Richard Notebaert and VCh/CFO Oren Shaffer. See, web cast
page for both live cast and replay. See also, release.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a three day meeting of the Computer System Security
and Privacy Advisory Board (CSSPAB). The agenda includes
(1) discussion of a CSSPAB privacy report, (2) discussion of a
CSSPAB baseline standards report, (3) updates on computer
security legislation, (4) an update by the OMB on privacy and
security issues, (5) an agency briefing on compliance with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), (6) and a
discussion of DMCA issues. Location: GSA, 7th and D Streets,
SW, 5700.
9:00 AM. The Bureau of
Industry and Security's (BIS) Regulations and Procedures
Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) will hold a partially
open meeting. The agenda for the open portion of the meeting
includes a presentation of papers or comments by the public,
an update on pending regulations, a discussion of TSR MTOP
limit comments, a discussion of the Unverified List, a review
of SNAP 2002 status, a discussion of AES regulations & SED
recordkeeping requirements, a discussion on implementation of
CCL User Friendliness recommendations, and updates from
working groups. See, notice
in the Federal Register. Location: Room 3884, Department of
Commerce, 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania
Avenues, NW.
9:30 AM. The U.S.
Court of Appeals (DCCir) will hold an en banc hearing in Ruggiero
v. FCC, No. 00-1100. On February 8, a three judge panel
issued its split opinion
holding unconstitutional the ban on issuance of low power FM
radio broadcast licenses to anyone who has previously engaged
in an unlicensed operation. The set of people who have engaged
in unlicensed broadcasting who may seek low power FM licenses
is a very small and insignificant group. However, this case
could have a broader impact. The en banc panel may provide an
analysis of the application of the First Amendment to
broadcast speech that affects a wider range of speakers.
Location: Courtroom 20, 333 Constitution Ave., NW.
10:30 - 11:30 AM. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans,
Education Under Secretary Eugene Hickok, and National Science Foundation
Director Rita Colwell will hold a press conference to release
a "compilation of visions" prepared by members of
industry, academia and government on how emerging technologies
might be used in education and training. See, notice.
Location: Secretary's Conference Room, 5th floor, Department
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW.
FULL: WALK INS WILL NOT BE
ADMITTED. 12:00 NOON - 4:30 PM. The Cato Institute will host an
event titled "The Supreme Court: Past and Prologue. A
Look at the October 2001 and October 2002 Terms".
Location: 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
2:30 PM. The Senate
Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Science, Technology,
and Space will hold a hearing to on nanotechnology.
Location: Room 253, Russell Building. |
|
|
| Wednesday, September 18 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
7:30 - 9:00 AM. The National
Association of Manufacturers (NAM) will host a breakfast. Rep. Tom Davis
(R-VA) will speak on the upcoming elections. See, notice.
Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street, NW.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Day two of a three day meeting of the Computer System Security
and Privacy Advisory Board (CSSPAB). The agenda includes
(1) discussion of a CSSPAB privacy report, (2) discussion of a
CSSPAB baseline standards report, (3) updates on computer
security legislation, (4) an update by the OMB on privacy and
security issues, (5) an agency briefing on compliance with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act, (6) and a discussion of
DMCA issues. Location: GSA, 7th and D Streets, SW, 5700.
9:00 AM. FCC
Commissioner Kevin Martin
will speak at an Alliance for
Public Technology event. Location: Loew's L'Enfant Plaza
Hotel.
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM. The FCC will hold
an auction seminar for Auction No. 46 applicants. This is for
the 1670-1675 MHz band auction, scheduled for October 30,
2002. See, notice
with registration form [PDF]. Registration starts at 9:30
AM. The seminar begins at 10:00 AM. Location: FCC, 445 12th
Street, SW, Room 8-C245.
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The FCC's
Technological Advisory Council will hold a meeting. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: FCC, 445 12th St., SW, Room
TW-C305.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearings to examine
pending judicial nominations. See, notice.
Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The House
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the
Internet, and Intellectual Property will hold a hearing on HR
5119, the Plant Breeders Equity Act of 2002. Audio web
cast. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.
12:15 PM. The FCBA's
Transactional Practice Committee will host a brown bag lunch.
The topic will be FBI and CFIUS
issues that arise in telecommunications transactions. The
scheduled speakers are Richard Salgado (FBI) and Gay Sills and
Jack Dempsey (CFIUS). RSVP to wendy @fcba.org.
Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 8-B411.
1:00 PM. The House
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Border
Security, and Claims, and the House Ways and Means
Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a
joint oversight hearing titled "Preserving the Integrity
of Social Security Numbers and Preventing Their Misuse by
Terrorists and Identity Thieves". Location: Room 1100,
Longworth Building.
6:00 - 8:00 PM. The FCBA will
host a CLE seminar titled "The Wake-Up Call --
Telecommunications Policies One September Later". The
scheduled speakers include Marsha
MacBride (FCC Chief of Staff and Director of the FCC's
Homeland Security Policy Council), Howard Waltzman (Counsel to
House Commerce Committee), Owen Wormser (DOD Principal
Director for Spectrum, Space, Sensors & C3), Mike
Gallagher (NTIA),
Jeffery Goldthorp (FCC). For more information contact Laura
Phillips at 202 842-8891 or Lauren Van Wazer at 202 418-0030.
RSVP to wendy @fcba.org.
Registrations and cancellations are due by 5:00 PM on
September 16. Location: Sidley Austin,
Conference Room 6-E, 1501 K Street NW.
6:00 - 8:00 PM. The FCBA's
Young Lawyers Committee will host an event titled Career
Night.
TIME? The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will hold a
hearing on China's compliance with the commitments it made in
connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
See, U.S. Trade Representative
(USTR) notice
in the Federal Register.
TIME? The FTC has scheduled a
hearing in the matter of its administrative complaint
against Rambus alleging
anti competitive behavior in violation of Section 5 of the
Federal Trade Commission Act in connection with its
participation in a standard setting body for dynamic random
access memory products. See also, FTC release.
Location: FTC.
Day one of a two day Homeland Security Technology Expo
hosted by the Department of
Commerce's Technology Administration and Bureau of
Industry and Security (BIS). See, BIS
notice. For more information contact Cheryl Mendonsa
(202 482-8321). Location: DC Armory.
Deadline for the FCC to act on BellSouth's application
to provide in region interLATA services in the states of
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South
Carolina. |
|
|
| Thursday, September 19 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
8:00 AM. The U.S. Chamber
of Commerce's National Chamber Litigation Center will host
a press briefing on the upcoming term of the Supreme Court. Charles
Cooper (Cooper &
Kirk) and Carter
Phillips (Sidley & Austin.
A continental breakfast will be served. RSVP to 202 463-5337
or nclc @uschamber.com.
Location: 1615 H Street, NW.
8:00 AM. Treasury Secretary Paul
O'Neill will speak at the American Business Conference
CEO's Fall Meeting. Location: Jefferson Hotel, 1200 16th
Street, NW.
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Day three of a three day meeting of the Computer System Security
and Privacy Advisory Board (CSSPAB). The agenda includes
(1) discussion of a CSSPAB privacy report, (2) discussion of a
CSSPAB baseline standards report, (3) updates on computer
security legislation, (4) an update by the OMB on privacy and
security issues, (5) an agency briefing on compliance with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act (6) and a discussion of
DMCA issues. Location: GSA, 7th and D Streets, SW, 5700.
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Subcommittees of the FCC's Public
Safety National Coordination Committee will hold meetings. The
Interoperability Subcommittee will meet at 9:00 - 11:30 AM.
The Technology Subcommittee will meet at 12:30 - 3:00 PM. The
will meet at 3:00 - 5:30 PM. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street,
SW, Room TW-C305.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a business meeting. See, notice.
Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Commerce Committee will meet in executive session to mark
up pending legislation. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
11:00 AM. The Cato Institute
will host a panel discussion titled "Copy Fights: Can
Politicians or Entrepreneurs Best Protect Intellectual
Property?" The scheduled speakers are Rep. Howard Berman
(D-CA), Gigi Sohn (Public
Knowledge), Phil
Corwin (Butera
& Andrews), Troy Dow (MPAA), Ed
Black (CCIA),
and James
Miller (Smith College). Lunch will follow the program.
See, notice.
Location: Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW.
12:00 NOON. The Progress and
Freedom Foundation (PFF) will host a luncheon panel
discussion titled "The Future of Telecom".
The participants will be Ivan Seidenberg (CEO of Verizon), Randolph May (PFF),
Scott Cleland (Precursor Group), Blair Levin (Legg Mason
Equity Research), and Brett Swanson (The Gilder Technology
Report). To register, contact Rebecca Fuller at rfuller @pff.org or 202
289-8928. Location: Ronald Reagan Building, Pavilion Room,
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
2:00 PM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee will hold an
oversight hearing on enforcement of the antitrust laws.
See, notice.
Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
4:00 PM. Michael
Birnhack (Professor at the University of
Haifa Faculty of Law) will give a lecture titled "The
Denial of the Copyright Law / First Amendment Conflict"
as a part of the George
Washington University Law School Intellectual Property
Workshop Series. For more information, contact Prof.
Robert Brauneis at 202 994-6138. Location: Faculty
Conference Center, 5th Floor Burns, 716 20th Street, NW.
6:00 - 8:00 PM. The FCBA's
Young Lawyers Committee will host a Career Night for law
students and new attorneys. FCC
Commissioner Kevin Martin
will participate. For more information, contact Yaron Dori at
202 637-5600 or ydori @hhlaw.com
or Ryan Wallach at 202 429-4759 or rwallach @willkie.com.
RSVP to Wendy @fcba.org.
Location: Hogan & Hartson, 555 13th Street, NW.
Day two of a two day Homeland Security Technology Expo
hosted by the Department of
Commerce's Technology Administration and Bureau of
Industry and Security (BIS). See, BIS
notice. For more information contact Cheryl Mendonsa
(202 482-8321). Location: DC Armory.
President Bush is scheduled to release a document that states
a national strategy for cyber security. |
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| Friday, September 20 |
The House will not be in session.
8:30 - 10:00 AM. Harold
Furchtgott Roth and Gregory Sidak
of the American Enterprise
Institute (AEI) will host a press breakfast titled
"Is the FCC Moving Too Slowly?". The AEI states that
this is a "media only" event. RSVP Veronique Rodman
at vrodman @aei.org or
call Heather Dresser at 202 862-5884. Location: AEI, 11th
Floor Conference Room, 1150 17th Street, NW.
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. The FCC's Public
Safety National Coordination Committee will meet. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW. |
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