Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Preserving State Commission Oversight Act Thursday, which would tweak statute by “mandating a continuing role for States in designating eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal Service program.” The lawmakers posted the bill text and framed it as an oversight change for the Lifeline program. “In a program where waste and fraud have run rampant for years, removing the ability of states to police companies participating in the Lifeline program can only lead to further misuse of public funds,” said Cramer, a former public utility commissioner, in a statement. “The FCC doesn’t have the authority, the manpower, or the local knowledge to police the entire program at a national level. That’s why the states are so important in maintaining the integrity of this program.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come under fire from Capitol Hill Democrats for revoking certification of nine Lifeline broadband providers recently. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., led the latest letter of protest on the topic, also signed by Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and former subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The reasons given for taking these actions do not seem to justify the extreme results,” said these House Democrats. “While the order states that the revocations are necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse, the order does not explain how its actions will accomplish those goals. Furthermore, since the Order raised many novel policy questions regarding the Commission’s current efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Lifeline program, we find it troubling that the Chairman would insist on pursuing the same course he has so often criticized his predecessors for: an improper exercise of the FCC’s delegated authority and a refusal to permit the full Commission from voting on an item that poses new questions of law and policy.” An FCC spokesman declined comment on this letter and had defended Pai’s actions last week (see 1702100047).

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Preserving State Commission Oversight Act Thursday, which would tweak statute by “mandating a continuing role for States in designating eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal Service program.” The lawmakers posted the bill text and framed it as an oversight change for the Lifeline program. “In a program where waste and fraud have run rampant for years, removing the ability of states to police companies participating in the Lifeline program can only lead to further misuse of public funds,” said Cramer, a former public utility commissioner, in a statement. “The FCC doesn’t have the authority, the manpower, or the local knowledge to police the entire program at a national level. That’s why the states are so important in maintaining the integrity of this program.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come under fire from Capitol Hill Democrats for revoking certification of nine Lifeline broadband providers recently. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., led the latest letter of protest on the topic, also signed by Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and former subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The reasons given for taking these actions do not seem to justify the extreme results,” said these House Democrats. “While the order states that the revocations are necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse, the order does not explain how its actions will accomplish those goals. Furthermore, since the Order raised many novel policy questions regarding the Commission’s current efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Lifeline program, we find it troubling that the Chairman would insist on pursuing the same course he has so often criticized his predecessors for: an improper exercise of the FCC’s delegated authority and a refusal to permit the full Commission from voting on an item that poses new questions of law and policy.” An FCC spokesman declined comment on this letter and had defended Pai’s actions last week (see 1702100047).

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended a rollback of Lifeline broadband provider designations amid criticisms from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others (see 1702030070 and 1702060062). "It’s vital that low-income Americans have access to communications services, including broadband Internet, which Lifeline helps to achieve," Pai wrote in a Tuesday blog post, which also reiterated his broader, initial efforts to close the digital divide. He recognized there are questions about why the Wireline Bureau issued a Lifeline broadband provider (LBP) reconsideration order Friday.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended a rollback of Lifeline broadband provider designations amid criticisms from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others (see 1702030070 and 1702060062). "It’s vital that low-income Americans have access to communications services, including broadband Internet, which Lifeline helps to achieve," Pai wrote in a Tuesday blog post, which also reiterated his broader, initial efforts to close the digital divide. He recognized there are questions about why the Wireline Bureau issued a Lifeline broadband provider (LBP) reconsideration order Friday.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to overhaul its regulations on importation and interstate movements of plant pests. The agency’s proposed rule (here) would codify and clarify existing permitting procedures, and create new lists of exempt plant pests and biological control organisms that APHIS determines present no risk to plants and plant products. The proposed rule would also set new packaging requirements for plant pests, biological control agents and soil, and revise APHIS’s regulations on importation of soil, stone and quarry products. Comments on the proposal are due March 20.

Whether the 1993 presumption of no effective competition in local cable markets stays or goes is beside the point because the legal challenge to the FCC's 2015 effective competition order involves ensuring the agency follows the statute through evidence-based findings of effective competition in each franchise area, said NAB, NATOA and Northern Dakota County (Minnesota) Cable Communications Commission in a reply brief filed Tuesday in U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in their challenge of the agency's June order (see 1506020060). "Rulemakings do not provide a vehicle to rewrite statutes, even if the Commission regards the statutory scheme as anachronistic or inconvenient," the filing said, and any remedy "lies with Congress." Oral argument hasn't been scheduled. Final briefs are due March 29.

The 2016 annual user fee of $138 for each customs broker district permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by Feb. 26, said CBP in a notice (here). According to 19 CFR 111.96(c), this user fee is payable for each calendar year at the port through which the broker was issued a permit or at a port referred to in 19 CFR 111.19(c) in the case of a national permit. Note that 19 CFR 111.96(c) also states that if a broker fails to pay the annual user fee by the published due date, the appropriate port director will notify the broker in writing of the failure to pay and will revoke the permit to operate. That notice will constitute revocation of the permit. CBP anticipates "that for subsequent years, the annual user fee for customs brokers will be due on the last business day of February of each year," it said.

U.S. agencies are increasingly collaborating in developing export regulations, bringing more integration and effectiveness to the administration in that policy field, top-ranking officials from the Commerce, State, Defense and Treasury departments said during a Nov. 3 panel at the Bureau of Industry and Security’s 2015 Update conference. The administration isn’t yet ready to overcome ongoing challenges in its drive to create a single licensing agency for exports, but that effort continues, said Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Deputy Assistant Director Brian Nilsson. BIS officials made a strong pitch for that single agency, which they refer to as Phase III of Export Control Reform, the day before (see 1511020024).

The 2015 annual user fee of $138 for each customs broker district permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by Feb. 27, said CBP in a notice (here). According to 19 CFR 111.96(c), this user fee is payable for each calendar year at the port through which the broker was issued a permit or at a port referred to in 19 CFR 111.19(c) in the case of a national permit. Note that 19 CFR 111.96(c) also states that if a broker fails to pay the annual user fee by the published due date, the appropriate port director will notify the broker in writing of the failure to pay and will revoke the permit to operate. That notice will constitute revocation of the permit. CBP anticipates "that for subsequent years, the annual user fee for customs brokers will be due on the last business day of February of each year," it said.

Little consensus emerged in discussions on net neutrality Wednesday at a Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative event, during multiple panel discussions at the National Press Club in Washington. Several speakers strongly objected to reclassification of broadband as a Title II service.