Tech Law Journal Daily E-Mail Alert
April 21, 2006, Alert No. 1,355.
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Hu Says PR China Will Strengthen Intellectual Property Rights and Increase Market Access

4/20. President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China traveled to Washington DC where he met with President Bush. Bush and Hu both delivered welcoming speeches. See, transcript. They also held a joint news conference. See, transcript.

President Bush stated in his welcoming speech that "we welcome China's commitments ... to expand market access for U.S. goods and services, to improve enforcement of intellectual property rights, and to move toward a flexible, market-based exchange rate for its currency. These policies will benefit the Chinese people -- and are consistent with being a responsible member of the international economic system and a leader in the World Trade Organization."

Bush also said that "China has become successful because the Chinese people are experience the freedom to buy, and to sell, and to produce -- and China can grow even more successful by allowing the Chinese people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely, and to worship."

Hu said in his welcoming speech that "The Chinese are industrious, courageous, honest, and intelligent. They created the splendid ancient Chinese civilization. And today, they're firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and are making continuous progress in the modernization drive by carrying out the reform and opening up program."

"We share important common strategic interests in a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation and trade", said Hu. "In particular, mutually beneficial and win-win China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade benefit our two peoples and promote the economic growth in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large. Indeed, they have become an important foundation for China-U.S. relations."

Hu pledged that "We will continue to ... take positive steps in such areas as expanding market access, increasing imports, and strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights, and further expand China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade."

He said at the news conference that "We understand the American concerns over the trade imbalances, the protection of the intellectual property rights and market access. We have taken measures, and we'll continue to take steps to properly resolve the issues." He added that "We'll continue to expand the market access and increase the import of American products."

Hu also discussed US barriers to trade, including export controls and visa restrictions. He said that "The U.S. technology products exported to China, particularly in the field of the export of high-tech products, are quite incompatible with the economic might of the United States. I hope that the United States government will be able to relax or ease the restrictions imposed on its exports, particularly high-tech exports to China. And we also hope that the U.S. government will be able to create a level playing field for Chinese businesses who want to enter the American market. And this will certainly help bring down the trade deficit of the United States. And this will also contribute to the further sound and stable growth of the trading ties and economic cooperation between the two countries."

Hu also discussed Taiwan ("an inalienable part of Chinese territory"), North Korea, and Iran's nuclear program, in his welcoming speech, and at the news conference.

See also, toasts by Bush and Hu.

More Trade News

4/21. On April 21, 2006, the Department of State (DOS) published a notice in the Federal Register that announces, summarizes, recites, and sets the effective date (April 21, 2006) for, amendments to its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). See, Federal Register, April 21, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 77, at Pages 20534-20555.

The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which regulates exports, announced on April 20 in a revised notice in the Federal Register that the previously announced two day meeting of its Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee will be shortened to a one day meeting, to be held on April 26. See, Federal Register, April 20, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 76, at Page 20389.

The agenda for this meeting includes "VOIP Networks". A BIS employee contacted by TLJ declined to comment further on this agenda item.

Also, the BIS announced on April 11, 2006, the the DOC and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China have agreed to establish a U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group under the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

The BIS stated in a release that the US and PRC "have reviewed progress on cooperation in the context of the Exchange of Letters on the End-Use Visit Understanding (EUVU) signed at the 2004 Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), and continue to recognize that full implementation of the EUVU is essential to strengthening civilian high technology and strategic trade between the two countries."

Finally, the House Commerce Committee announced that it will meet to mark up the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 on Tuesday, April 25 (opening statements), and Wednesday, April 26 (mark up). One possible subject of debate and amendments may be proposals to restrict foreign ownership of the national cable licenses that would be created by the bill.

Bush Discusses Research Funding, R&D Tax Credit, and STEM Education

4/19. President Bush gave another speech on his collection of policy proposals that he has named the "American Competitiveness Initiative", or ACI. He spoke at Tuskegee University in the state of Alabama. As in prior speeches, he advocated increasing federal spending on basic research, making the R&D tax credit permanent, and improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

On April 18, 2006, Bush gave a similar speech at a public school in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. See, story titled "Bush Discusses His American Competitiveness Initiative" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,353, April 19, 2006.

Bush said at Tuskegee University that "here are some things we need to do to make sure we shape the future. First is to make sure we're always on the leading edge of research and technology." After discussing Tuskegee University's doctoral program, and nanotechnology, he said that "the first thing that I intend to work with Congress on to make sure that we're on the leading edge of change and technology, and that is to increase federal support for vital, basic research".

He added that "So the government should double the commitment to the most basic -- critical research programs in the physical sciences over the next 10 years. I look forward to Congress to doubling that commitment." He cited the original internet project, microdrive storage, electrochemistry and signal compression as examples of federal research projects that have benefited the US economy.

Bush next advocated making permanent the research and development tax credit. He said, "But the private sector spends twice as much money on research and development that the federal government does. So I think it's important for us to put policy in place to continue that kind of research."

Third, Bush advocated improving STEM education. He said that "if we don't get the children the skills in math and science and engineering, those jobs are going elsewhere. That's just the way it is. And therefore, we've got to deal with it head on."

Bush also expressed support for the Pell grant system, and for increasing federal support for historically black colleges.

NSF Creates STEM Commission

4/19. The National Science Foundation (NSF) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the establishment of an entity titled "Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics", or STEM. The NSF states that it will "address pre-K-16 education". See, Federal Register, April 19, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 75, at Page 20141.

On April 18, President Bush created, by executive order, a National Mathematics Advisory Panel within the Department of Education. See, story titled "Bush Creates National Mathematics Advisory Panel" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,353, April 19, 2006.

President Bush elaborated in a speech on April 19, 2006, that "I set up what's called a national math panel. It's a way to analyze -- we got experts coming together, and they're going to analyze the best teaching methodology for math, the best curriculum for math."

He added that "We need to make sure that our teachers, our school boards, our principals, our superintendents, our governors understand what works. You cannot set an objective and achieve that objective unless you have the tactics necessary to do that. And so we're going to call the experts together. They'll be presenting a report to Margaret and myself by January 31st of 2007. It will be a really important study, because, again, it will give -- it will help states and local school districts have the methodology, the teaching methods necessary to help achieve an important objective."

On April 26, 2006, the Senate Commerce Committee's (SCC) Subcommittee on Technology will hold a hearing titled "Fostering Innovation in Math and Science Education".

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Washington Tech Calendar
New items are highlighted in red.
Friday, April 21

The House will not meet on Monday, April 10, through Friday, April 21. See, Republican Whip Notice and Whip's calendar.

The Senate will not meet on Monday, April 10, through Friday, April 21. See, 2006 Senate calendar.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Advisory Committee for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference's (WRC-07 Advisory Committee) Informal Working Group 5: Regulatory Issues will hold a meeting. See, notice. Location: Boeing, 1200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a panel discussion titled "CFIUS Reform: National Security and International Investment". Thomas Donnelly (AEI), Clark Ervin (Aspen Institute), Kristin Forbes (MIT's Sloan School of Management), David Marchick (Covington & Burling), and Phillip Swagel (AWI). See, notice. Press contact: Veronique Rodman at 202-862-4871 or vrodman at aei dot org. Location: 12th floor, 1150 17th St., NW.

12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a panel discussion titled "E-Discovery 2006: New Cases and New Rules". The speakers will include John Facciola (U.S. Magistrate Judge), Jonathan Redgrave (Redgrave Daley Ragan & Wagner), Christopher Jensen (Hudson Legal), Amy Bowser (Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw), Donna Ely (Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight), Douglas Davison (Wilmer Hale). The price to attend ranges from $5-$10. For more information, call 202-626-3463. See, notice. Location: D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level.

12:15 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) will host an event titled "Wireless Luncheon with the 8th Floor Legal Advisors". The price to attend is $15. Registrations and cancellations are due by 5:00 PM on April 18. See, registration form [PDF]. Location: Sidley Austin, 1501 K St., NW.

Day two of a two day closed meeting of the Defense Science Board 2006 Summer Study on Information Management for Net-Centric Operations. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 11, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 69, Page 18292. Location: 3601 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Arlington, VA.

Deadline to submit to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) written requests to testify at the USTR's May 3 hearing on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the U.S. and Malaysia. The USTR seeks testimony on "electronic commerce issues", "trade-related intellectual property rights issues", "barriers to trade in services", and other topics. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 22, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 55, at Pages 14558-14559.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) [52 pages in PDF] regarding the assessment and collection of regulatory fees for fiscal year 2006. This NPRM is FCC 06-38 in MD Docket No. 06-68. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 6, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 66, at Pages 17410-17433.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to AT&T's April 7 petition for a limited waiver of section 61.42(g) of the FCC's rules so that it may exclude True IP to PSTN (TIPToP) service from any price cap basket in the upcoming 2006 annual access tariff filing. See, FCC notice [PDF].

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding Verizon's petitions seeking relief from certain dominant carrier regulations for in-region, interexchange services that would otherwise apply to Verizon's provision of those services in the former Bell Atlantic region after March 19, 2006, when the requirements of section 272 of the Act sunset with respect to the final three Verizon states. See, FCC notice [PDF]. This is WC Docket No. 06-56.

Sunday, April 23

3:00 - 7:00 PM. The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 10, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 68, at Page 18118. Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1235, Arlington, VA.

Monday, April 24

The House will return from its "Spring District Work Period". See, Majority Whip's calendar.

The Senate will return from its spring recess. See, 2006 Senate calendar.

7:30 AM - 3:30 PM. The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 10, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 47, at Page 12403, and notice in the Federal Register, April 10, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 68, at Page 18118. Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1235, Arlington, VA.

Deadline to submit comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) regarding its interim rule revising the rules of practice relating to the filing date requirements for ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 23, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 36, at Pages 9260-9262.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its second further notice of proposed rulemaking (2ndFNPRM) regarding the obligation of television licensees to provide educational programming for children and the requirement that television licensees protect children from excessive and inappropriate commercial messages. See, text [14 pages in PDF] of this 2ndFNPRM. The FCC adopted this item at its meeting of March 17, 2006. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 27, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 58, at Pages 15145-15147; and story titled "FCC Adopts Further NPRM Re Children's Programming Obligations" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,332, March 20, 2006. This item is FCC 06-33 in MM Docket No. 00-167.

5:00 PM. Deadline to submit applications to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Electron and Optical Physics Division for financial assistance for FY 2006 by the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Financial Assistance Program. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 31, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 62, at Pages 16285-16288.

Tuesday, April 25

10:00 AM. The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing titled "A Review of Current Securities Issues". See, notice. The witness will be Chris Cox, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Location: Room 538, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet to prepare for the CITEL PCC.II (Radiocommunication including Broadcasting) meetings on June 20-23, 2006, in Lima, Peru, and on October 17-20, 2006, in San Salvador, El Salvador. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 29, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 60, at Page 15798. Location: __.

2:00 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold a hearing on judicial nominations. The SJC frequently cancels or postpones hearings without notice. See, notice. The SJC frequently cancels or postpones hearings without notice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

2:00 - 4:00 PM. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age will meet to consider "new rules that could change the Commission's implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act, which requires the Commission to ensure, inter alia, that small businesses and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women are given the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services". (Emphasis added.) See, notice in the Federal Register, April 20, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 76, at Page 20401. The public may attend telephonically on a listen only basis. Telephone 800-347-3350 and identify Diego Ruiz as the conference call's chairman. Location: undisclosed.

2:00 PM. The House Homeland Security Committee's (HHSC) Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology will hold a hearing titled "The State of Interoperable Communications: Perspectives on Federal Coordination of Grants, Standards, and Technology". Location: Room 311, Rayburn Building.

2:00 PM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Task Force on Telecom and Antitrust will hold an oversight hearing titled "Network Neutrality: Competition, Innovation and Nondiscriminatory Access". The hearing will be webcast by the HJC. Press contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn at 202 225-2492. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

5:00 PM. The House Commerce Committee (HCC) will meet to begin its mark up of HR __, the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006", or COPE Act. See, notice. The hearing will be webcast by the HCC. Press contact: Larry Neal (Barton) at 202 225-5735 or Terry Lane (Barton) at 202 225-5735. Location: Room 2123 Rayburn Building.

Extended deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the request contained in the Twelfth Annual Report on the status of competition in the market for the delivery of video programming for comments on the best methodologies and data for measuring the 70-percent thresholds and, if the thresholds have been met, what action might be warranted to achieve the statutory goals. See, notice of extension [PDF].

Wednesday, April 26

8:00 AM. The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) will host a breakfast. The speakers will be Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA). Registrations and cancellations are due by 5:00 PM on April 20. The price to attend ranges from $30 to $55. See, registration form [PDF]. Location: Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave., NW.

9:00 AM - 12:45 PM. The Cato Institute will host a conference titled "Copyright Controversies Freedom, Property, Content Creation, and the DMCA". Lunch will follow the program. See, notice and registration page. Location: Cato, 1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

SHORTENED TO ONE DAY. 9:00 AM. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee will meet. The BIS regulates exports. The agenda includes "VOIP Networks". See, original notice in the Federal Register, April 13, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 71, at Page 19164, and revised notice in the Federal Register, April 20, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 76, at Page 20389. For more information, contact Yvette Springer at 202-482-4814. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884, 14th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

9:30 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold a hearing titled "Parity, Platforms and Protection: The Future of the Music Industry in the Digital Radio Revolution". See, notice. The SJC frequently cancels or postpones hearings without notice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The House Commerce Committee (HCC) will continue its mark up of HR __, the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006", or COPE Act. See, notice. The hearing will be webcast by the HCC. Press contact: Larry Neal (Barton) at 202 225-5735 or Terry Lane (Barton) at 202 225-5735. Location: Room 2123 Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee's (SCC) Subcommittee on Technology will hold a hearing titled "Fostering Innovation in Math and Science Education". This hearing will address "the importance of science and mathematics education from kindergarten through graduate school in fueling future developments in the 21st Century’s high-tech innovation economy". Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) will preside. The witnesses will be Mary Ann Rankin (University of Texas at Austin), Paul Dugan (Washoe County School District), Thomas McCausland (Siemens Medical Solutions), and Ioannis Miaoulis (Museum of Science, Boston). See, notice. Press contact: Melanie Alvord (Stevens) at 202 224-8456, Aaron Saunders (Stevens) at 202 224-3991, or Andy Davis (Inouye) at 202 224-4546. Location: Room 562, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing titled "Authorizations of Customs and Trade Functions". See, notice. Location: Room 215, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The House Financial Services Committee's (HFSC) Subcommittee on Capitol Markets will hold a hearing titled "America’s Capital Markets: Maintaining Our Lead in the 21st Century". Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.

2:00 PM. The House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law will hold an oversight hearing titled "The Department of Justice: Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Civil Division, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Executive Office for United States Trustees, and Office of the Solicitor General". Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar titled "Key Court Rulings Affecting Information Technology Practices and Stategies". It will cover "key recent court decisions affecting the protection, licensing and distribution of computer software, databases and other information content. It will also examine decisions on liability relating to the creation, use, procurement, security and support of information technology and information systems, the Internet and e-commerce". The speakers will include J.T. Westermeier (DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary). The price to attend ranges from $70-$125. For more information, call 202 626-3488. See, notice. Location: D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host an event titled "FISMA Phase II Workshop on a Program for Accreditation of Information Security Assessment Services". See, notice. Location: NIST, Red Auditorium, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

Thursday, April 27

SHORTENED TO ONE DAY. Day two of a two day meeting of the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee. The BIS regulates exports. The agenda includes "VOIP Networks". See, notice in the Federal Register, April 13, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 71, at Page 19164. For more information, contact Yvette Springer at 202-482-4814. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884, 14th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

9:00 AM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property will hold a hearing titled "Patent Harmonization". See, notice. Press contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn at 202 225-2492. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

9:30 - 11:30 AM. The House Science Committee will hold a hearing on HR 5143, the "H-Prize Act of 2006". The purpose of this bill is to incent technological innovation by providing for the government to give monetary awards to businesses, universities, and individuals that innovate. It would apply only to hydrogen energy technologies. Location: Room 2318, Rayburn Building.

11:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Advisory Committee for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07 Advisory Committee) will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 1, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 40, at Page 10530. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-C305.

2:15 PM. Day one of a two day conference hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) titled "Federal Preemption: Law, Economics, and Politics". See, notice. Press contact: Veronique Rodman at 202-862-4870 or VRodman at aei dot org. Location: AEI, 12th floor, 1150 17th St., NW.

3:00 - 4:00 PM. The National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science Board will hold a closed meeting to discuss vacancies. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 12, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 70, at Page 18779.

5:15 PM. Deadline to submit to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) post-hearing statements and briefs regarding the probable economic effects of the proposed U.S.-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement. (The hearing is scheduled for April 20.) See, notice in the Federal Register, February 28, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 39, at Pages 10066-10067.

6:00 - 9:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar titled "How to Protect and Promote Your Client's Artwork and Commercial Images". The speakers will include Allison Cohen (attorney) and Laura Possessky (Gura & Possessky). The price to attend ranges from $70-$125. For more information, call 202-626-3488. See, notice. Location: D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level.

Deadline to submit comments to the Library of Congress's Copyright Office regarding its proposed fee increases, to take effect on July 1, 2006. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 28, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 59, at Pages 15368-15371.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding pulver.com's and Evslin's petition [18 pages in PDF] for a rulemaking regarding number porting in emergencies. See, FCC notice [PDF] and story titled "Pulver Asks FCC to Require Greater Number Porting in Emergencies" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,329, March 14, 2006.

Friday, April 28

9:00 AM. Day two of a two day conference hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) titled "Federal Preemption: Law, Economics, and Politics". At 9:00 AM, there will be a panel titled "Modern Preemption Regimes: Financial and Network Industries". The speakers will be Randy Picker (University of Chicago law school), Jonathan Macey (Yale School of Law), and Judge Douglas Ginsburg (U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia). Picker focuses on technology and network industries (see, SSRN author page), while Macey focuses on financial industries. See, notice. Press contact: Veronique Rodman at 202-862-4870 or VRodman at aei dot org. Location: AEI, 12th floor, 1150 17th St., NW.

10:00 AM. The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) will host an event. The CDT notice states that this is a "press-only breakfast briefing" regarding "prospects for technology-related legislation", including "privacy, electronic copyright, data security, government wiretapping and ``network neutrality,´´" and other topics. The speakers, all from the CDT, will be Jerry Berman, Leslie Harris, Jim Dempsey, Ari Schwartz, Nancy Libin, John Morris, Paula Bruening, and David Sohn. Breakfast will be served. RSVP to David McGuire at dmcguire at cdt dot org or 202- 637 9800 x106. Location: CDT, 1634 I Street, NW, 11th floor.

Extended deadline to submit comments to the Library of Congress's (LOC) Section 108 Study Group in response to the LOC's notice in the Federal Register regarding, among other topics, expanding the scope of 17 U.S.C. § 108. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 15, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 31, at Pages 7999-8002.

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) regarding its draft [33 pages in PDF] of its "Special Publication (SP) 800-89: Recommendation for Obtaining Assurances for Digital Signature Applications".

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to ENUM LLC's petition for limited waiver to allow it to obtain North American Numbering Plan (NANP) numbering resources. See, FCC notice [PDF].

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to AT&T's April 7 petition for a limited waiver of section 61.42(g) of the FCC's rules so that it may exclude True IP to PSTN (TIPToP) service from any price cap basket in the upcoming 2006 annual access tariff filing. See, FCC notice [PDF].

Extended deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding privacy of consumer phone records. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 15, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 50, at Pages 13317-13323. See also, notice of extension [PDF]. The FCC adopted this NPRM on February 10, 2006, and released the text [34 pages in PDF] on February 14, 2006. See, story titled "FCC Adopts NPRM Regarding Privacy of Consumer Phone Records" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,308, February 13, 2006, and story titled "FCC Rulemaking Proceeding on CPNI May Extend to Internet Protocol Services" in TLJ Daily E-Mail alert No. 1,310, February 15, 2006. This NPRM is FCC 06-10 in CC Docket No. 96-115 and RM-11277.