Any Federal Maritime Commission or other regulatory action meant to prevent port congestion issues would likely be either ineffective or too broad and distortive to the marketplace, said World Shipping Council CEO John Butler while speaking at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 28. The WSC has previously pushed back against complaints about free time limits and assessing detention and demurrage following an FMC report on port congestion (see 1505080022). The agency's report (see 1504140014), outlined several paths of action, including the opportunity for filing of formal complaints.
An FCC proposal to remove radiofrequency device certification requirements for importers needs some language changes to avoid unintended regulatory issues, said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 15-170. While NCBFAA generally favored proposed changes to eliminate the import declaration filing requirements on FCC Form 740, the association said some language tweaks are necessary to distinguish between the parties involved in import transactions. Although the FCC intends to remove requirements for commission-specific declaration or filing upon import, the proposed language "does not accurately capture this shift," the NCBFAA said. As proposed, it said that "no radio frequency device may be imported into the Customs territory of the United States unless the importer or ultimate consignee, or their designated customs broker, determines that the device meets one of the conditions of entry." But "without a declaration to affix responsibility in each instance, it will be unclear exactly who made the determination," the NCBFAA said. "If the responsible party for making the determination could be any of three entities (i.e., the importer, the ultimate consignee or the customs broker, as the proposed regulation suggests), there is no certainty for the FCC or the trade as to which party is responsible for documenting how the radio frequency device was determined to be in compliance. This leaves a potentially significant gap in affixing responsibility." Customs brokers shouldn't be among the entities considered able to make such a "determination," the group said. While fewer than 100 forms a month were filed when the form became a requirement, an estimated 2 million are filed annually today, the NCBFAA said. "By 2020, an estimated 26 billion devices may be subject to FCC jurisdiction as the Internet of Things expands, making the Form 740 filing a burdensome requirement that appears to us to yield few enforcement benefits for the FCC."
An FCC proposal to remove radiofrequency device certification requirements for importers needs some language changes to avoid unintended regulatory issues, said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 15-170. While NCBFAA generally favored proposed changes to eliminate the import declaration filing requirements on FCC Form 740, the association said some language tweaks are necessary to distinguish between the parties involved in import transactions. Although the FCC intends to remove requirements for commission-specific declaration or filing upon import, the proposed language "does not accurately capture this shift," the NCBFAA said. As proposed, it said that "no radio frequency device may be imported into the Customs territory of the United States unless the importer or ultimate consignee, or their designated customs broker, determines that the device meets one of the conditions of entry." But "without a declaration to affix responsibility in each instance, it will be unclear exactly who made the determination," the NCBFAA said. "If the responsible party for making the determination could be any of three entities (i.e., the importer, the ultimate consignee or the customs broker, as the proposed regulation suggests), there is no certainty for the FCC or the trade as to which party is responsible for documenting how the radio frequency device was determined to be in compliance. This leaves a potentially significant gap in affixing responsibility." Customs brokers shouldn't be among the entities considered able to make such a "determination," the group said. While fewer than 100 forms a month were filed when the form became a requirement, an estimated 2 million are filed annually today, the NCBFAA said. "By 2020, an estimated 26 billion devices may be subject to FCC jurisdiction as the Internet of Things expands, making the Form 740 filing a burdensome requirement that appears to us to yield few enforcement benefits for the FCC."
A Federal Communications Commission proposal to remove device certification requirements for importers needs some language changes to avoid unintended regulatory issues, said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. The trade group submitted its comments (here) to the agency on Sept. 21 in response to FCC plans to eliminate the import declaration filing requirements on FCC Form 740. While generally in favor of the proposed changes, some language tweaks are necessary to distinguish between the parties involved in import transactions, said the NCBFAA.
A customs broker’s agency relationship is created only by a signed power of attorney and cannot be implied under state law from a broker-importer or broker-broker business relationship, said Middle North Carolina U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder on Sept. 16 as he dismissed a lawsuit brought against two customs brokerages by an importer that was erroneously listed as importer of record and forced to pay thousands of dollars in antidumping duties, according to a lawyer present at the ruling.
Educational data can help teachers customize lessons while increased use of technology helps keep kids engaged in the classroom, panelists said Monday during a Future of Privacy Forum event. Privacy advocates expressed concerns that data brokers can use educational data in a manner similar to consumer data.
Educational data can help teachers customize lessons while increased use of technology helps keep kids engaged in the classroom, panelists said Monday during a Future of Privacy Forum event. Privacy advocates expressed concerns that data brokers can use educational data in a manner similar to consumer data.
The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration recently signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America to strengthen the logistics and transportation industry, promote trade and investment, and enforce U.S. trade laws, said the NCBFAA in a press release sent on Sept. 21. The partnership “seeks to increase awareness of the economic benefits of international trade, educate the public on trade activities as a job creator and development strategy, as well as encourage U.S businesses to accelerate their exporting operations while simultaneously generating interest from foreign companies to coordinate with ITA regarding importing valuable commodities,” said the release.
LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi advocates and the cable industry clashed with carriers (see 1509090046 and 1509080046) over LTE-U, both at CTIA's convention and at the FCC. Carriers and their allies said LTE-U and Wi-Fi can get along, while NCTA expressed alarm. NTIA offered to get involved if needed.
LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi advocates and the cable industry clashed with carriers (see 1509090046 and 1509080046) over LTE-U, both at CTIA's convention and at the FCC. Carriers and their allies said LTE-U and Wi-Fi can get along, while NCTA expressed alarm. NTIA offered to get involved if needed.