Best Buy Purchasing and Best Buy Health “have been adversely affected” by the Section 301 List 3 tariffs on Chinese imports, argued the subsidiaries Monday in a complaint (in Pacer) at the U.S. Court of International Trade. It was among the roughly 3,300 suits filed at the CIT since Thursday to vacate the Lists 3 and 4A tariffs, including 700 on Monday, the last filing day for importers to qualify for refunds if the actions are successful. There was some debate Tuesday whether the Monday deadline could be open to interpretation.
Anti-conservative bias was part of GOP thinking with recent Section 230-related legislation (see 2009080082), Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us, calling his Communications Decency Act bill a “very reasonable proposal.” Academics likened the legislation to President Donald Trump’s social media executive order (see 2007230072), saying both are driven by unfounded claims of bias.
Fred Moorefield, deputy chief information officer for command, control and communications, defended DOD’s recent request for information on spectrum sharing, which industry and FCC officials say raised questions as the commission moves toward a vote on the 3.45-3.55 GHz band. Moorefield spoke at NTIA’s virtual spectrum policy symposium. At a similar summit a year ago, officials promised the administration would soon release a national spectrum policy; it hasn't been unveiled.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death could affect the outcome of the court's Oracle v. Google intellectual property case and be a turning point on some administrative law issues, experts told us. The federal judges most mentioned as President Donald Trump most likely choice to replace Ginsburg are considered somewhat unknown quantities on issues such as technology, media regulation and copyright.
Samsung owes Verance more than $1.31 million in unpaid license fees and late charges for embedding Cinavia audio watermarking detectors in the roughly 7 million Blu-ray players it sold July 2017 through September 2019, alleged a Verance complaint (in Pacer) Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The complaint stands out for its unredacted treatment of sensitive documents, including full disclosure of confidential license agreements, royalty payment schedules and quarterly Samsung product shipment reports.
The FCC got differing advice from commenters in its annual Communications Act Section 706 proceeding. Wireless and wireline groups had a different version of the role wireless can play. Public interest groups said the FCC should say the market needs improvement, in comments posted Friday (see 2009180049) and Monday in docket 20-269. The agency's decision depends on who's in control next year, industry officials said. In April, FCC Democrats disagreed that broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely manner (see 2004240042).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal for the 3.45-3.55 GHz band faces questions at the FCC as the Trump administration refocuses on a national 5G network and DOD seeks comment on spectrum sharing. Together, they raise questions about the FCC order and Further NPRM set for a vote Sept. 30 (see 2009090048), industry and government officials said in interviews. Some think Rivada Networks' campaign for a national wholesale network is playing a role (see 2008280061). Tuesday is an administration spectrum symposium.
Internet gaps exposed by COVID-19 are fueling calls by state policymakers to treat broadband like a utility. With federal preemption issues, the California Public Utilities Commission plans to “push the question,” said Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves in an interview last week. Washington state’s net neutrality law author said he will seek to fully allow municipal broadband next year. A Michigan regulation bill might also return in 2021.
The pandemic has been a “huge wake-up call” for industry on the supply chain for critical communications equipment, underlining vulnerabilities, said Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. Others on an American Enterprise Institute webinar Friday stressed network virtualization's growing importance.
The FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment has had to adjust its focus to grapple with COVID-19 and its outsize effects on minorities and small business owners, members told its Friday meeting. “We’ve had to tweak our plans,” said Beasley Broadcast CEO and Access to Capital working group head Caroline Beasley. “Getting access to capital to buy a broadcast property in the world of COVID is literally impossible.” The pandemic “illustrated as nothing else has the importance of connecting communities,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.