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July 17, 2006, Alert No. 1,411.
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Federal Circuit Applies Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act in Patent Dispute

7/14. The U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir) issued its opinion [PDF] in Intel v. CSIRO and Microsoft v. CSIRO, two related cases involving 802.11a and 802.11g standards. The District Court denied Australia's CSIRO's motions to dismiss pursuant to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The Court of Appeals affirmed.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia's national science agency. It is the assignee of U.S. Patent No. 5,487,069, titled "Wireless LAN". CSIRO asserts that this patent covers the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.11a and 802.11g, and attempted to collect license fees from various companies that incorporate wireless networking components in their products. Intel makes such products, and sells them to other companies, such as Dell. The CSIRO negotiated with Dell, but not with Intel.

On February 2, 2005, CSIRO filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (EDTex) against Buffalo Technology alleging infringement of its patent. The Eastern District of Texas is the court of choice of forum shopping plaintiffs in patent cases.

On May 9, 2005, Intel and Dell filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (NDCal) against CSIRO seeking declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity.

On May 9, 2005, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Netgear filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (NDCal) against CSIRO seeking declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity.

In both the Intel and Microsoft actions, the CSIRO moved to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant its claim of immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The District Court denied both motions, holding that by attempting to license and collect royalty revenues the CSIRO had engaged in commercial activity, and therefore was not entitled to sovereign immunity.

The CSIRO filed interlocutory appeals of both denials. The Court of Appeals considered the two appeals together. It affirmed.

The FSIA, which is codified at 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602-1611, provides for immunity of foreign states from suit in state and federal courts in the U.S., subject to certain exceptions.

§ 1604 provides, in full, that "Subject to existing international agreements to which the United States is a party at the time of enactment of this Act a foreign state shall be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States and of the States except as provided in sections 1605 to 1607 of this chapter. "

§ 1605 provides, in part, that "(a) A foreign state shall not be immune from the jurisdiction of courts of the United States or of the States in any case ... (2) in which the action is based upon a commercial activity carried on in the United States by the foreign state; or upon an act performed in the United States in connection with a commercial activity of the foreign state elsewhere; or upon an act outside the territory of the United States in connection with a commercial activity of the foreign state elsewhere and that act causes a direct effect in the United States".

Moreover, § 1603, the definitional section of the statute, provides, in part, that "commercial activity" means "either a regular course of commercial conduct or a particular commercial transaction or act. The commercial character of an activity shall be determined by reference to the nature of the course of conduct or particular transaction or act, rather than by reference to its purpose".

The CSIRO argued that while it had sought to license its patent, and collect revenues, and had engaged in negotiations, it had not engaged in commercial activity because it had not actually entered into licensing agreements with any of the plaintiffs.

The Court of Appeals, citing the Supreme Court's opinion in Republic of Argentina. v. Weltover, Inc., 504 U.S. 607 (1992), wrote that the exception to sovereign immunity applies where the government entity does not "exercise powers peculiar to sovereigns".

The Court of Appeals added that "CSIRO's acts of (1) obtaining a United States patent and then (2) enforcing its patent so it could reap the profits thereof -- whether by threatening litigation or by proffering licenses to putative infringers" falls within the commercial activity exception.

These cases are Intel Corporation and Dell, Inc. v. CSIRO, App. Ct. No. 06-1032 and D.C. No.C-05-1886, and Microsoft Corporation, Hewlitt-Packard Company, and Netgear, Inc. v. CSIRO, App. Ct. No. 06-1040 and D.C. No. C-05-1894. Judge Michel wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Bryson and Plager joined. Judge Martin Jenkins presided in both of the District Court cases.

DC Circuit Rules in Case Regarding AT&T's EPCCs

7/14. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion [9 pages in PDF] in AT&T v. FCC, AT&T's challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) order that retroactively applied its determination that AT&T's enhanced prepaid calling cards (EPCCs) are telecommunications, and thus subject to intrastate access charges and universal service taxes.

AT&T previously sold cards that allow purchasers to make long distance telephone calls without subscribing to a long distance service or using a credit card. Rather, it sold prepaid calling cards (PCCs) that provided purchasers with a fixed number of minutes at a fixed price. It sold these PCCs through distributors, such as WalMart. Use of these cards also included audio advertisements for distributors.

AT&T previously argued that for the purposes of intrastate access charges and universal service taxation these EPCCs were an enhanced service, and therefore an information service, rather than a telecommunications. It argued that this meant that it did not have to pay intrastate access charges and universal service taxes on it sale of EPCCs.

Previously, AT&T petitioned the FCC for a declaratory ruling. The FCC declared that added advertising is merely an adjunct to basic service, and therefore EPCCs are telecommunications. However, the FCC also declared that its determination is retroactive. At issue is the present petition for review is the retroactivity portion of the order.

The Court of Appeals wrote that agency may make their orders retroactive, unless "an agency alters an established rule defining permissible conduct which has been generally recognized and relied on throughout the industry that it regulates". The Court of Appeals continued that in the present case the FCC's "decision in this case did not change settled law; AT&T does not and indeed cannot point us to a settled rule on which it reasonably relied."

See, FCC's Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [30 pages in PDF] adopted on February 16, 2005, and released on February 23, 2005. This order and NPRM is FCC 05-41 in WC Docket No. 03-133 and WC Docket No. 05-68. See also, story titled "FCC Orders AT&T to Pay Access Charges and USF Payments on Some Calling Cards" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,082, February 24, 2005. And see, brief [45 pages in PDF] of the FCC.

This case is AT&T v. FCC and USA, respondents, and Qwest, et al., intervenors, App. Ct. No. 05-1096, a petition for review of a final order of the FCC. Judge Randolph wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Garland and Williams joined.

FCC Approves Sales of Adelphia Assets

7/13. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted, but did not release, a Memorandum Opinion and Order that approves the sale of most of the cable systems and assets of Adelphia Communications Corporation to Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corporation, subject to conditions.

The FCC issued a short release [PDF] that describes this item, and each of the five Commissioners released statements. This item is FCC 06-105 in MB Docket No. 05-192.

See, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's statement [PDF], Commissioner Deborah Tate's statement [PDF], and Commissioner Robert McDowell's statement [PDF].

Commissioner Michael Copps dissented on several grounds. He wrote in his statement [5 pages in PDF] that "I also am disappointed that this Order gives such short shrift to network neutrality. It has been our practice to condition recent mergers of this scale on enforcement of the four principles of the Internet Policy Statement that the Commission adopted last year. But here we backtrack and are too timid to even apply them in an enforceable fashion to the transaction at hand."

See, FCC's policy statement [3 pages in PDF], adopted on August 5, 2005, and released on September 23, 2005. See also, story titled "FCC Adopts a Policy Statement Regarding Network Neutrality" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,190, August 8, 2005, and story titled "FCC Releases Policy Statement Regarding Internet Regulation" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,221, September 26, 2005.

Copps continued that the FCC "needs to consider the addition of a fifth principle to its Internet Policy Statement. We are entering a world where big and concentrated broadband providers are searching for new business models and sometimes even suggesting that web sites may have to pay additional charges and new tolls for the traffic they generate. This could change the character of the Internet as we know it. To keep our policies current, we need to go beyond the original four principles and commit industry and the FCC to a specific principle of enforceable nondiscrimination, one that allows for reasonable network management but makes clear that broadband network providers will not be allowed to shackle the promise of the Internet in its adolescence."

Similarly, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein wrote in his statement [PDF] that "I dissent in part from this Order because I am particularly concerned that the Commission fails to adopt explicit, enforceable provisions to preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the Internet." He added that "The majority’s decision to backtrack from earlier Commission precedent is particularly troubling given that we should be thinking about how to enhance our consumer protections in the broadband world, not to erode them."

More FCC News

7/14. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion [22 pages in PDF] in Mobile Relay Associates v. FCC, a case regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band to eliminate interference with public safety communications. The Court of Appeals denied the petition for review. This case is Mobile Relay Associates and Skitronics, LLC v. FCC and USA, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, App. Ct. No. 04-1413.

7/13. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) removed from the agenda for its meeting of July 13 its previously announced item regarding digital audio broadcasting. The FCC's agenda had stated that the title of this was "Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service". Neither the FCC's agenda, nor the notice of deletion [PDF] provide further details. The FCC issued its Further NPRM and NOI back on April 15, 2004. See, story titled "FCC Announces FNPRM and NOI Regarding Digital Audio Broadcasting" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 878, April 16, 2004. This FNPRM/NOI is FCC 04-99 in MB Docket No. 99-325. The FCC adopted its First Report and Order [27 pages in PDF] on October 10, 2002.

7/13. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted, but did not release, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of Inquiry, and Order regarding the establishment of a new service for medical radio communication devices in the 401-406 MHz band. This item is FCC 06-103 in ET Docket Nos. 06-135, 05-213, 03-92, and RM-11271. See, FCC release [PDF].

7/13. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted and released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture [PDF] that proposes to fine 1st Source Information Specialists, Inc. dba LocateCell $97,500 for failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau in its investigation of data brokers regarding violations of the customer proprietary network information (CPNI) provisions of 47 U.S.C. § 222. See also, FCC release.

More News

7/13. The U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir) issued its opinion [PDF] in Flex-Rest v. Steelcase, a patent case involving computer keyboard technology. The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the District Court. This case is Flex-Rest, LLC v. Steelcase, Inc., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, App. Ct. Nos. 05-1354 and 05-1367, appeals from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Judge David McKeague presiding. Judge McKeague has since been elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals (6thCir). Judge Linn wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Bryson and Prost joined.

7/13. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that has withdrawn its proposed rule that would have made use of the Simplified Network Application Process (SNAP) mandatory and that would have revised the provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that govern electronic filing. See, Federal Register, July 13, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 134, at Page 39603.

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Notice
The was no issue of the TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert on Friday, July 14, 2006.
Washington Tech Calendar
New items are highlighted in red.
Monday, July 17

The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour and at 2:00 PM for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 PM. The House will consider several items under suspension of the rules, including HR 3729, the "Federal Judiciary Emergency Tolling Act of 2005", a bill to permit the Chief Judge of any U.S. District Court to extend deadlines in the event of a natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency. See, Republican Whip Notice.

The Senate will meet at 12:00 NOON. It will consider en bloc of S 3504, S 2754, and HR 810, the stem cell bills.

6:00 PM. Deadline for upfront payments for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Auction 66. This is the auction of Advance Wireless Services (AWS) licenses in the 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz (AWS-1) bands. See also, notice in the Federal Register, June 2, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 106, at Pages 32089-32091.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding whether and how an open global database of proxy numbers of Video Relay Service (VRS) users may be created so that a hearing person may call a VRS user through any VRS provider without having to ascertain the first VRS user's current internet protocol address. See, notice in the Federal Register, May 31, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 104, at Pages 30848-30856. This FNPRM is FCC 06-57 in CG Docket No. 03-123.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding telecommunications relay services (TRS) and speech to speech services for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities, and misuse of internet protocol relay service and video relay service. This item is FCC 06-58 in CG Docket No. 03-123. See, notice in the Federal Register, June 1, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 105, at Pages 31131-31137.

Tuesday, July 18

The House will meet at 9:00 AM for morning hour, and at 10:00 AM for legislative business. It will consider numerous non-technology related items. See, Republican Whip Notice.

8:30 - 10:00 AM. The Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF) will host a book launch for Net Neutrality or Net Neutering: Should Broadband Internet Services be Regulated? This book is a collection of essays. The speakers will be Thomas Lenard (PFF), David Farber (University of Pennsylvania), Randy May (Maryland Free State Foundation), and Adam Thierer (PFF). See, notice and registration page. A continental breakfast will be served. Location: Holeman Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW.

8:30 AM - 1:30 PM. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's National Chamber Foundation will host an event titled "The State of the American Judiciary". The keynote speaker will be Justice Antonin Scalia. See, notice. For more information, contact Danielle Walker at 202-463-5500 or ncfevents at uschamber dot com. Location: U.S. Chamber, 1615 H Street, NW.

9:30 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an hearing titled "Department of Justice Oversight". Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is scheduled to testify. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) wrote in a letter to Gonzales that the SJC is interested in surveillance of communications and financial transaction, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court, prosecution of journalists, and related issues. Location: Room 216, Hart Building.

10:00 AM. The House Financial Services Committee's (HFSC) Subcommittee on Financial Institutions will hold a hearing titled "Hearing entitled "ICANN and the Whois Database: Providing Access to Protect Consumers from Phishing". The witnesses will include Eileen Harrington (Federal Trade Commission). Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.

10:15 AM. The U.S. District Court (DC) will hold a status conference in Agence France Presse v. Google, D.C. No. 1:2005-cv-00546-GK, Judge Kessler presiding. Location: Courtroom 26A, 333 Constitution Ave., NW.

12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a panel discussion titled "Trademarks and the Internet". The speakers will include David Kelly (Finnegan Henderson). The price to attend ranges from $15-$30. For more information, call 202-626-3463. See, notice. Location: D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level.

2:00 - 3:00 PM. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) will host an event titled "Transatlantic Dialogue on the Digital Economy". The speakers will include member of the European Parliament. See, notice. RSVP to rsvp at netcaucus dot org or 202-638-4370. Location: Room 1300, Longworth Building.

1:00 - 3:00 PM. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee will meet to prepare for ITU Radiocommunication Sector's Special Committee on Regulatory/Procedural Matters that will take place on December 4-8, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. See, notice in the Federal Register, May 4, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 86, at Pages 26397-26398. Location: Boeing Company, 1200 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.

1:30 - 5:00 PM. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold their third joint public hearing on "whether and when specific types of single-firm conduct may violate Section 2 of the Sherman Act by harming competition and consumer welfare and when they are pro-competitive or benign". This hearing will focus on refusals to deal. The presenters will be Stephen Donovan (International Paper), William Kolasky (WilmerHale), Hewitt Pate (Hunton & Williams), Robert Pitofsky (Georgetown University Law Center), Steven Salop (Georgetown University Law Center), and Mark Whitener (General Electric). Location: Conference Room C, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

2:00 PM. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing titled "Motor Vehicle Technology and the Consumer: Views from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration". See, notice. Press contact: Larry Neal (Barton) at 202-225-5735. Location: Room 2322, Rayburn Building.

2:30 - 2:45 PM. Robert Cresanti, the Department of Commerce's Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, will present a report titled "Recycling Technology Products: An Overview of E-Waste Policy Issues" at a meeting of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI). Press contact: Marjorie dot Weisskohl at technology dot gov 202-482-0149. Location: Room Constitution A, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H St., NW.

Day one of a two day conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ant the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) titled "Options for Action Summit: Addressing U.S. Competitiveness in Global Standardization". See, notice. Location: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

Day one 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.

Wednesday, July 19

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. It may consider HR 5684, the "United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act". See, Republican Whip Notice.

TIME CHANGE. 11:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee's (SCC) Subcommittee Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness will hold a hearing titled "High-Performance Computing". The witnesses will be Simon Szykman (National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development), Irving Wladasky-Berger (IBM), Christopher Jehn (Cray Inc.), Jack Waters (Level 3 Communications), Joseph Lombardo (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Michael Garrett (Boeing Company), and Stanley Burt (Advanced Biomedical Computing Center). See, notice. The hearing will be webcast by the SCC. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) will preside. Press contact: 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 Banking Committee will hold a hearing titled "The Federal Reserve's Second Monetary Policy Report to Congress for 2006". The witness will be Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Chairman Ben Bernanke. See, notice. Location: Room 538, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) will hold a closed meeting with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab to discuss Doha round negotiations and bilateral trade agreements. The SFC notice for reporters states that "stake-outs are possible". Location: Room 215, Dirksen Building.

12:00 NOON. The Cato Institute will host a panel discussion titled "U.S.-China Trade, Exchange Rates, and the U.S. Economy". The speakers will be Nicholas Lardy (Institute for International Economics), Frank Vargo (National Association of Manufacturers), and Daniel Griswold (Cato). Lunch will follow the program. See, notice. Location: Cato, 1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. Brad Smith, Microsoft's General Counsel, will speak at a closed event titled "How Will Microsoft Enhance Windows While Promoting Competition?" For more information, contact Sarah Brennan at 202-986-4901 or brennan at newamerica dot net. See, notice. Location: National Press Club, 13th Floor, 52914th Street, NW.

12:00 NOON. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a ceremony honoring former FCC Commissioner Benjamin Hooks. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, TW-C305 at 445 12th St., SW.

2:00 - 4:00 PM. The The House Science Committee (HSC) and the House Administration Committee will hold a joint hearing titled "Voting Machines: Will New Standards and Guidelines Prevent Future Problems?" Location: Room 2138, Rayburn Building.

2:00 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an executive business meeting. See, notice. The SJC frequently cancels or postpones meetings without notice. The SJC rarely follows its published agenda. Press contact: Courtney Boone at 202-224-5225. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

2:15 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold a hearing on judicial nominations. See, notice. The SJC frequently cancels or postpones hearings without notice. The SJC rarely follows its published agenda. Press contact: Courtney Boone at 202-224-5225. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

2:15 - 5:30 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar titled "Practical Law Office Technology for Solos and Small Firms". The speakers will include Reid Trautz and Lisa Weatherspoon. The price to attend ranges from $50-$125. For more information, call 202-626-3488. See, notice. Location: D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level.

6:30 - 8:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Young Lawyers Committee will host an event titled "Summer Associate Happy Hour". For more information, contact Chris Fedeli at cfedeli at crblaw dot com or 202-828-9874. Location: Location: Helix Lounge, 1430 Rhode Island Ave., NW.

Day one of a two day conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ant the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) titled "Options for Action Summit: Addressing U.S. Competitiveness in Global Standardization". See, notice. Location: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

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.

Thursday, July 20

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. It may consider HR 5684, the "United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act". See, Republican Whip Notice.

10:00 AM. The House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) will hold a hearing to hear testimony from Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Chairman Ben Bernanke. Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The House International Relations Committee (HIRC) will hold a hearing titled "Asian Free Trade Agreements:  Are They Good for the USA?" The witness will include Karan Bhatia, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. See, notice. Location: Room 2172, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The House Science Committee will hold a hearing titled "How Can Technologies Help Secure Our Borders?" Location: Room 2138, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Technological Advisory Council will hold a meeting. See, FCC notice [PDF] and notice in the Federal Register, July 12, 2006, Vol. 71, No.133, at Page 39322. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, TW-C305 at 445 12th St., SW.

11:30 AM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law will hold a hearing titled "Legislative Hearing on H.R. 682, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act". See, HR 682 and notice of hearing. Press contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn at 202-225-2492.Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

12:00 NOON. The Cato Institute will host an event titled "U.S. Trade Policy in the Wake of Doha: Why Unilateral Liberalization Makes Sense". The speakers will include Dan Ikenson (Cato) and Will Martin, lead economist at the World Bank's Development Research Group. Lunch will be served. See, notice and registration page. Location: Room B-339, Rayburn Building, Capitol Hill.

Friday, July 21

The Republican Whip Notice states that "the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business".

10:00 AM. The House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment will hold a hearing titled "The Homeland Security Information Network: An Update on DHS Information Sharing Efforts". The witnesses will include Charles Allen (DHS Chief Intelligence Officer). Location: Room 311, Cannon Building.