2/24. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an agenda [4 pages in PDF] for its event on Thursday, March 3, 2011, titled "open meeting". The agenda includes adoption of a NPRM on retransmission consent, a NPRM on expanding the Lifeline and Linkup universal service subsidy programs to include broadband, two NPRMs on disability access, and three items related to communications on tribal lands.

The FCC will meet at 10:00 AM to adopt the three items regarding tribal lands. The FCC will meet at 2:00 PM to adopt the other items. The meeting will be held in the Commission Meeting Room, and will be web cast.

Disability Access. The agenda includes adoption of two Notice of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRMs) that implement portions of the "Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010", or CVAA, which the Congress enacted late in the 111th Congress.

One of the purposes of the CVAA is to improve the access of persons with disabilities, including vision and hearing loss, to new communications and information technologies.

See, S 3304 [LOC | WW], previously titled the "Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act", which contains the substantive language, and S 3828 [LOC | WW], the "Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010", signed into law on October 8, 2010.

One NPRM begins the process to reinstate and modify the video description rules adopted by the FCC in 2000, and subsequently vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 2000, the FCC lacked statutory authority. See, S 3304, Title II, Section 202.

The other NPRM will be far reaching and impose burdensome new requirements. It will place within the FCC's regulatory reach numerous innovative businesses and products that were not previously regulated.

This NPRM pertains to implementation of the new Section 716 of the Communications Act. The CVAA, at S 3304, Title I, Section 104, gives the FCC sweeping direction and authority to regulate "user equipment, network equipment, and software" to ensure that it is "accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities".

This new authority reaches all "advanced communications services", which is broadly defined to include "non-interconnected VOIP". This section also directs the FCC to regulate the services provided by any "provider of advanced communications services". This section also directs the FCC to regulate "network features, functions, or capabilities".

This proceeding is CG Docket No. 10-213, WT Docket No. 96-198, and CG Docket No. 10-145.

Retransmission Consent. The agenda also includes adoption of an NPRM that "seeks comment on changes to rules governing or affecting retransmission consent negotiations between broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors".

The retransmission consent regulatory regime was established by the Cable Act of 1992, and is further implemented by FCC rules. This is an issue with a high profile for the public and the Congress. However, the FCC has little statutory authority in this area.

47 U.S.C. § 325 provides that "No cable system or other multichannel video programming distributor shall retransmit the signal of a broadcasting station, or any part thereof, except ... with the express authority of the originating station". That is, broadcasters can charge cable companies and other MVPDs for retransmission of their programming. The companies have been negotiating retransmission consent contracts for 18 years.

Unlike in 1992, there are now usually multiple MVPDs in each market. When one MVPD has permission to retransmit a particular program, but another does not, consumers can switch providers. However, there are switching costs. Subscribers of a particular MVPDs can experience unexpected disruption of programming that they want to watch if a new retransmission consent agreement is not reached.

This proceeding is MB Docket No. 10-71.

Universal Service Subsidies. The agenda also includes adoption of a NPRM "to reform and modernize" two universal service tax and subsidy programs, titled "Lifeline" and "Link Up". See also, the FCC's web page that describes these two programs.

The agenda also states that this NPRM proposes to expand these programs to include subsidization of broadband. The FCC's staff report [376 pages in PDF] titled "A National Broadband Plan for Our Future", released in March of 2010, recommended this.

47 U.S.C. § 254, the statutory basis for these programs, applies only to "telecommunications services" and a "telecommunications carrier".

This proceeding is the eternal CC Docket No. 96-45, and WC Docket No. 03-109.

Tribal Lands. The first part of the event will be devoted to statements regarding, and approval of items, pertaining to communications on tribal lands.

First, the FCC is scheduled to adopt an order and FNPRM regarding the provision of radio services by Native Nations in the area of tribal lands. This is MB Docket No. 09-52 and RM-11528.

Second, the FCC is scheduled to adopt a NPRM regarding "recommendations to help close the wireless gap on Tribal Lands".

Third, the FCC is scheduled to adopt a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) that "explores ways to overcome the barriers to deployment of communications services to Native Nations communities".

2/25. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) announced members of its subcommittees. Every member of the full Committee has also been named to its Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet (SCTI).

The SCTI is responsible for communications, certain internet related matters, and oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

The Democratic members of the SCTI are Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) (SCTI Chairman), Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-HI), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MO), Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK), Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) (SCC Chairman).

The Republican members of the SCTI are Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) (SCTI ranking Republican), Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Sen. Kay Hutchison (R-TX) (SCC ranking Republican).

The Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance are Pryor (Chairman), Kerry, Boxer, McCaskill, Klobuchar, Udall, and Rockefeller. The Republican members are Wicker (ranking Republican), Ensign, Thune, Boozman, Toomey, and Hutchison.

This subcommittee handles consumer protection, including in online commerce, consumer privacy, and oversight of the consumer protection functions of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion are Klobuchar (Chairman), Kerry, Cantwell, Pryor, Udall, Warner, Begich and Rockefeller. The Republican members are Blunt (ranking Republican), Ensign, DeMint, Thune, Boozman, Ayotte, and Hutchison.

This subcommittee has little authority or purpose. The SCC web site states that this subcommittee "has general oversight jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Commerce, whose mission is to foster, serve, and promote the nation’s foreign and domestic commerce, economic development, technological advancement, and environmental stewardship." However, oversight of key Department of Commerce (DOC) components rests with other committees. For example, the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) oversees the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The SCC web site also states that this Subcommittee "pays particular attention to strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. The Subcommittee also focuses on innovation and manufacturing to help businesses remain globally competitive."

2/17. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) held an executive business meeting at which it approved the nominations of Susan Carney (to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit), James Shadid (USDC/CDIll), Sue Myerscough (USDC/CDIll), and Michael Simon (USDC/DOre). The SCC held over consideration of Mae D'Agostino (USCD/SDNY). See, SJC release.

2/17. The Senate confirmed Stephanie O'Sullivan to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. See, Congressional Record, February 17, 2011, at Page S927.

2/14. The Senate confirmed James Graves to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals (5thCir). See, Congressional Record, February 14, 2011, at Page S704.

2/14. The Senate confirmed Edward Davila to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court (NDCal). See, Congressional Record, February 14, 2011, at Page S704.

2/7. The Senate confirmed Paul Holmes to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court (DArk). See, Congressional Record, February 7, 2011, at Page S619.

2/7. The Senate confirmed Diana Saldana to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court (SDTex). See, Congressional Record, February 7, 2011, at Page S619.

2/7. The Senate confirmed Marco Hernandez to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court (DOre). See, Congressional Record, February 7, 2011, at Page S619.

2/11. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (OUSTR) requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) establish two dispute settlement panels in matters involving the People's Republic of China (PRC). In one case, the OUSTR alleges that the PRC engages in discriminatory and restrictive treatment of U.S. suppliers of electronic payment services. The other matter pertains to duties imposed on the import of certain steel products.

The OUSTR submitted a letter [4 pages in PDF] to the WTO requesting consultations back on September 15, 2010. These proceedings are WTO DS413 (electronic payments) and DS414 (steel)

USTR Ron Kirk stated in a release that the US is "deeply concerned about China's continuing efforts to reserve its domestic payment card market for one state-owned enterprise, to the exclusion of American credit and debit card companies."

The OUSTR stated that "Electronic payment services are provided in connection with the operation of electronic networks that process payment transactions involving credit, debit, prepaid, and other payment cards. These services enable, facilitate and manage the flow of information and the transfer of funds from cardholders’ banks to merchants’ banks. Most of the world’s top providers of electronic payment services for credit and debit cards are headquartered in the United States."

The OUSTR continued that "Several hundred billion dollars worth of electronic payment transactions were processed in China in 2010. China’s regulator of electronic payment services, the People's Bank of China, has issued a series of measures -- dating back to 2001 -- that provide a Chinese domestic entity, China UnionPay (CUP), with a monopoly over the handling of domestic currency payment card transactions in China while excluding other potential suppliers."

It concluded that "China prohibits foreign suppliers from handling the typical payment card transaction in China, in which a Chinese consumer makes a payment in China’s domestic currency, the renminbi (RMB). Instead, China has created a ``national champion´´ in allowing only CUP to provide these services. Meanwhile, with regard to payment card transactions in foreign currency, like those involving Chinese tourists visiting other countries, China imposes requirements and restrictions that favor CUP over foreign suppliers."

2/21. EC Trade Commissioner Karel DeGucht gave a speech in Brussels, Belgium titled "Shoulder to Shoulder: the European View of the Transatlantic Relationship and the State of the WTO". He discussed trade barriers, dual use export controls, Doha round negotiations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other trade related topics. He said, regarding Doha, that "Failure to complete the negotiations in 2011 might create lasting damage to the world trading system."

2/9. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a notice in the Federal Register that announces, describes, recites, and sets the effective dates for, its amendments to its Export Administration Regulations regarding mandatory online registration to obtain an account to submit license applications and similar documents electronically through SNAP-R. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 9, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 27, at Pages 7102-7106.

2/4. The European Commission (EC) issued a request for comments regarding collective redress. The document [14 pages in PDF], released by the Competition Commissioner, is titled "Commission Staff Working Document: Public Consultation: Towards a Coherent European Approach to Collective Redress". Comments are due by April 30, 2011. See also, EC release.

2/24. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a notice in the Federal Register that sets comment deadlines for its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [58 pages in PDF] regarding development of a technical interoperability framework for a nationwide public safety broadband network in the 700 MHz band. The FCC adopted this NPRM on January 25, 2011, and released the text on January 26, 2011. It is FCC 11-6 in PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket 06-150, and WP Docket 07-100. See, Federal Register, February 24, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 37, at Pages 10295-10299. The deadline to submit initial comments is April 11, 2011. The deadline to submit reply comments is May 10, 2011.

2/17. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released its National Broadband Map, a web site with information about broadband availability. See also, NTIA release.

2/17. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report [81 pages in PDF] titled "Electronic Prescribing: CMS Should Address Inconsistencies in Its Two Incentive Programs That Encourage the Use of Health Information Technology".

2/14. Neelie Kroes, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda gave a speech in Barcelona, Spain, titled "Delivering Solutions on Roaming and Radio Spectrum".

2/2. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report [78 pages in PDF] titled "Electronic Health Records: DOD and VA Should Remove Barriers and Improve Efforts to Meet Their Common System Needs".

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The House will meet at 2:00 PM for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 PM. The House will consider several bills under suspension of the rules, including HR 394 [LOC | WW], the "Federal Courts and Venue Clarification Act of 2011", and HR 368 [LOC | WW], the "Removal Clarification Act of 2011". See, Rep. Cantor's schedule for week of February 28.

The Senate will meet at 2:00 PM for morning hour, and for a reading of Washington's Farewell Address.

The Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCUS) will hear oral argument in Stanford University v. Roche Molecular Systems, SCUS No. 09-1159. This is a patent case. See, September 30, 2009, opinion [PDF] of the U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir). The question presented is "Whether a federal contractor university's statutory right under the Bayh Dole Act, 35 U.S.C. §§ 200-212, in inventions arising from federally funded research can be terminated unilaterally by an individual inventor through a separate agreement purporting to assign the inventor's rights to a third party." See, SCUS February calendar and docket. Location: SCUS, 1 First St., NW.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host an event titled "Protecting Content on the Internet". The speaker will be John Westermeier (Finnegan Henderson). See, notice. The price to attend ranges from $89 to $129. CLE credits. For more information, call 202-626-3488. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, 1101 K St.,  NW.

6:00 PM. There will be a panel discussion titled "International Correspondents Panel to Analyze Digital Media's Role in Egyptian Uprising". See, notice. Location: National Press Club, 13th floor, 529 14th St., NW.

TIME? U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will meet with Michael Holston, EVP and General Counsel of Hewlett Packard. See, OUSTR calendar.

EXTENDED TO MAY 27. Three provisions of surveillance law expire. The three pertain to (1) roving wiretap orders, (2) FISA surveillance of individuals, and (3) easy access under FISA to business records, including library, phone, ISP and other business records. See, stories titled "House and Senate Extend Expiring Surveillance Provisions" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,054, March 3, 2010, and "Obama Signs Three Month Extension of Surveillance Provisions" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,198, February 25, 2011.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Inquiry (NOI) [31 pages in PDF] regarding how dynamic access radios and techniques can provide more intensive and efficient use of spectrum. The FCC adopted and released this NOI on November 30, 2010. It is FCC 10-198 in ET Docket No. 10-237. See, notice in the Federal Register, December 28, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 248, at Pages 81558-81559. See also, story titled "FCC Adopts NPRM and NOI on Spectrum Innovation" 2,168, December 4, 2010.

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Computer Security Division (CSD) regarding its draft SP 800-145 [7 pages in PDF] titled "A NIST Definition of Cloud Computing".

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Computer Security Division (CSD) regarding its draft SP 800-144 [60 pages in PDF] titled "Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing".

Deadline to submit amended proposals to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Order regarding unlicensed operation in the TV broadcast bands, which conditionally designates nine entities as TV bands device database administrators. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) adopted and released this Order on January 26, 2011. It is DA 11-131 in ET Docket Nos. 04-186 and 02-380. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 8, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 26, at Pages 6789-6792.

Deadline to submit comments to the Copyright Office (CO) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding electronic registration of automated databases that consist predominantly of photographs
and group registration of published photographs. See, notice in the Federal Register, January 28, 2011,  Vol. 76, No. 19, at Pages 5106-5107.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for morning hour, and at 12:00 NOON for legislative business. See, Rep. Cantor's schedule for week of February 28.

9:00 AM. Georgetown University will host an event titled "DHS Eighth Anniversary Roundtable". The speakers will be Janet Napolitano, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff. Location: Georgetown University, Gaston Hall, 37th and O St., NW.

10:00 AM. The Senate Banking Committee (SBC) will hold a hearing regarding the Federal Reserve Board's report titled "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress". The witness will be Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. See, notice. Location: Room 216, Hart Building.

1:30 PM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet will hold a hearing titled "Oversight of the Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator". See, notice. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

5:30 - 7:00 PM. The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) will host a reception in advance of its third annual event titled "Communications Summit" on March 2, 2011. Location: Congressional Meeting Room South (CVC 217), Capitol Visitor Center.

6:00 - 9:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host an event titled "A Plain English Guide to the Revised FTC/DOJ Horizontal Merger Guidelines". The speakers will be Matthew Hammond (DOJ Antitrust Division), Jonathan Kanter (Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft), John Longstreth (K&L Gates), and Elizabeth McIntyre (FCC). See, notice. The price to attend ranges from $89 to $129. CLE credits. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, 1101 K St.,  NW.

Deadline to submit comments to the President's Export Council (PEC) in advance of its March 11, 2001, meeting. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 18, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 34, at Page 9550.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for morning hour, and at 12:00 NOON for legislative business. See, Rep. Cantor's schedule for week of February 28.

8:30 AM - 4:45 PM. Day one of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). The agenda includes discussion of a "National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace" and other topics. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 11, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 29, at Page 7818. Location: Homewood Suites by Washington, 1475 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) will host its third annual event titled "Communications Summit". The speakers will include Meredith Baker (FCC Commissioner), former Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Philip Verveer (U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Department of State), David Gross (Wiley Rein), and Christopher Boam (Verizon). Location: Reserve Officers Association Building, 5th Floor, One Constitution Ave., NE.

9:00 AM. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially closed meeting. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 16, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 32, at Page 9001. Location: DOC, Room 6087B, Hoover Building, 14th Street between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, NW.

9:00 AM. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies will host a panel discussion titled "National Broadband Plan and the Underserved -- One Year Later". See, notice. Location: National Press Club, 13th floor, 529 14th St., NW.

10:00 AM. The House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) will hold a hearing titled "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy". See, notice. Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The House Intelligence Committee (HIC) will hold a closed hearing titled "Ongoing Intelligence Activities". See, notice. Location?

10:00 AM. The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) will hold a hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) budget request for FY 2012. Janet Napolitano (Secretary of Homeland Security) will testify. Location: Room 138, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) will hold a hearing regarding Special 301 designations. The Trade Act of 1974, in what is commonly known as its Special 301 provisions, requires the executive branch to identify countries that fail to protect the IPR and market access of U.S. companies, and take certain actions against those countries. See, OUSTR calendar. Location: OUSTR, 1724 F St., NW.

1:00 - 2:00 PM. The Center for American Progress (CAP) will host an event titled "Harnessing Trade for Shared Growth, American Competitiveness and Just Jobs". The speaker will be U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. See, notice. Location: CAP, 10th floor, 1333 H St., NW.

2:00 PM. The House Appropriations Committee (SAC) will hold a hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) budget request for FY 2012. Janet Napolitano (Secretary of Homeland Security) will testify. Location: Room 2359, Rayburn Building.

3:00 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) will hold a hearing titled "Nominations". The witnesses will be Goodwin Liu (nominated to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit), Kevin Sharp (USDC/MDTenn), Roy Dalton (USDC/MDFl), Claire Cecchi (USDC/DNJ), and Esther Salas (USDC/DNJ). See, notice. The SJC will webcast this event. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

FURTHER EXTENDED TO APRIL 13. Extended deadline to submit reply comments to the Library of Congress's (LOC) Copyright Office (CO) in response to its Notice of Inquiry (NOI) regarding federal coverage of sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 3, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 212, at Pages 67777-67781. This notice states that the deadline to submit reply comments is December 3, 2010. The LOC web site corrects the reply comment deadline: January 19, 2011. See also, correction notice in the Federal Register, November 18, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 222, at Pages 70704-70705. This proceeding is LOC Docket No. 2010-4. See also, story titled "Library of Congress Issues NOI on Extending Copyright Act to Pre 1972 Sound Recordings" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,150, November 8, 2010.  See also, extension notice in the Federal Register, December 1, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 230, at Pages 74749-74750. See, further extension notice in the Federal Register, February 24, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 37, at Pages 10405-10406.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. See, Rep. Cantor's schedule for week of February 28.

8:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Day two of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). See, notice in the Federal Register, February 11, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 29, at Page 7818. Location: Homewood Suites by Washington, 1475 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

10:00 AM. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing titled "Innovation in Job Creation and Economic Growth". See, notice. Location: Room 2322, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) will hold an executive business meeting. The agenda includes consideration of S 193 [LOC | WW], the "USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011". It also includes consideration of two judicial nominees: Caitlin Halligan, to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir), and Mae D'Agostino (USDC/NDNY). The SJC rarely follows its published agendas. The SJC will webcast this event. See, notice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 7, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 25, at Pages 6636-6637. Location: National Archives and Records Administration, Archivist's Reception Room, Room 105, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

10:30 AM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may hold an event titled "open meeting". Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW.

4:00 - 6:00 PM. The New America Foundation (NAF) will host an event titled "Can Technology Save Foreign Aid?". See, notice. Location: NAF, Suite 400, 1899 L St., NW.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host an event titled "Tribal Issues Commission Meeting". See, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps' November 17, 2010, speech [5 pages in PDF] in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding its CORES Registration System. The FCC adopted this NPRM on November 19, 2010, and released the text on December 7, 2010. It is FCC 10-192 in MD Docket No. 10-234. See, Federal Register, February 1, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 21, at Pages 5651-5677.

The House will meet at 2:00 PM in pro forma session. See, Rep. Cantor's schedule for week of February 28.

Supreme Court conference day (discussion of argued cases, and decision on cert petitions). Closed.

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Day three of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). The agenda includes discussion of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 11, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 29, at Page 7818. Location: Homewood Suites by Washington, 1475 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

1:00 - 5:30 PM. The Public Knowledge will host an event titled "Toward a Copyright Office for the 21st Century". The speakers will include Maria Pallante (acting Register of Copyright), Julie Sigall (Microsoft), Aneesh Chopra and others. See, notice. Location:  Mandarin Oriental, 1330 Maryland Ave., SW.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [18 pages in PDF] regarding expanding the scope of the permitted operations of the Travelers' Information Stations (TIS). The FCC adopted this item on December 29, 2010, and released the text on December 30, 2010. It is FCC 10-203 in PS Docket No. 09-19. See, notice in the Federal Register, January 19, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 12, at Pages 3064-3069. See also, story titled "FCC Releases NPRM Regarding Government Low Power AM" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,191, January 3, 2011.

Deadline to submit comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) regarding proposed changes to its Prioritized Examination Track (Track I) of the Enhanced Examination Timing Control Procedures. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 4, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 24, at Pages 6369-6376. See also, notice in the Federal Register, June 4, 2010, Vol. 75, No. 107, at Pages 31763-31768, and story titled "USPTO Proposes Three Track Patent Examination System" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,092, June 4, 2010.