The “Snuggie,” a popular “as-seen-on-TV” blanket with sleeves, is classifiable in the tariff schedule as a blanket, not as wearing apparel, the Court of International Trade said in a decision issued Feb.10 (here). Though capable of being worn, the Snuggie would not be worn “ordinarily” for everyday activities, CIT said. Snuggies are also marketed and sold as a blanket and used in a similar way, it said.
Federal Universal Service Fund
The FCC's Universal Service Fund (USF) was created by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to fund programs designed to provide universal telecommunications access to all U.S. citizens. All telecommunications providers are required to contribute a percentage of their end-user revenues to the Fund, which the FCC allocates for four core programs: 1. Connect America Fund, which subsidizes telecom providers for the increased costs of offering services to customers in rural and remote areas 2. Lifeline, which directly subsidizes low-income households to help pay for the cost of phone and internet service 3. Rural Health Care, which subsidizes health care providers to offer broadband telehealth services that can connect rural patients and providers with specialists located farther away 4. E-Rate, which subsidizes rural and low-income schools and libraries for internet and telecommunications costs The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the USF on behalf of the FCC, but requires Congressional approval for its actions. Many states also operate their own universal service funds, which operate independently from the federal program.
Latest News on the Universal Service Fund
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 30 - Feb. 5:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 23-29:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 16-22:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 9-15:
The Commerce Department may not order CBP to retroactively suspend liquidation when it finds a product is subject to the scope of an antidumping or countervailing duty order, even if it thinks the scope’s coverage of the product is obvious, the Court of International Trade said on Jan. 11 (here). Though the court agreed with Commerce that United Steel and Fasteners (US&F) American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) washers are covered by antidumping duties on helical spring lock washers, Commerce’s decision to suspend liquidation back to the date the order was issued was improper, CIT said.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 2-8:
The Court of International Trade is making minor changes to its schedule of fees that will take effect on Feb. 1, it said (here). Among other changes, the fee for an original admission for an attorney to practice before the court is rising from $76 to $81 (here), which requires conforming changes to CIT Rule 74 (here) and CIT’s application for admission (here). The court is also amending its list of judges (here) to reflect the death of Senior Judge Donald Pogue in October (see 1610260061).
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 25 - Jan. 1:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 19-25: