U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to amend 19 CFR 111.13 to add three requirements that an individual must satisfy in order to take the written examination for an individual customs broker's license, as administered by CBP.
Wireless Spectrum Auctions
The FCC manages and licenses the electromagnetic spectrum used by wireless, broadcast, satellite and other telecommunications services for government and commercial users. This activity includes organizing specific telecommunications modes to only use specific frequencies and maintaining the licensing systems for each frequency such that communications services and devices using different bands receive as little interference as possible.
What are spectrum auctions?
The FCC will periodically hold auctions of unused or newly available spectrum frequencies, in which potential licensees can bid to acquire the rights to use a specific frequency for a specific purpose. As an example, over the last few years the U.S. government has conducted periodic auctions of different GHz bands to support the growth of 5G services.
Latest spectrum auction news
President Bush and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez recognized 19 U.S. organizations with 'E' and 'E-Star' Awards for their commitment to strengthening U.S.' global competitiveness by expanding their export success. 'E' recipients include Fed Ex Corporation, Johnsonville Sausage, and the Seattle University. (Commerce press release, dated 05/20/08, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_006046)
On May 19, 2008, the Federal Maritime Commission held an industry briefing with the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, which covered a number of current issues and concerns, including equipment shortages in the export trades and marine terminal issues. (FMC dated 05/21/08, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=245 )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted four textile and apparel informed compliance publications that were reviewed in May 2008 with no change.
On May 15, 2008, the Los Angeles Harbor Commission approved the Clean Truck Program (CTP) Drayage Services Concession Agreement, which paves the way for the Port of Los Angeles to begin the transition to a Licensed Motor Carrier-based truck concession program beginning October 1, 2008.
On May 20, 2008, the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing on "Export Compliance: Ensuring Safety, Increasing Efficiency."
The following Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Court of International Trade cases on international trade issues were dated/decided during May 7 - 20, 2008:
The Census Bureau reports that the customs broker and freight forwarder association of Atlanta is sponsoring an Automated Export System Compliance Seminar and Workshop in Atlanta, GA on June 10 & 11, 2008. The U.S. Census Bureau and port officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection will participate as presenters. (Census notice available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/meetingsandpresentations/exportcompliance-atlanta-20080610.html )
At the April 2008 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. government officials discussed the Automated Export System (AES) and other export related issues.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a Truck Manifest CSMS message announcing that it has fixed the problem with the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is experiencing some synchronization issues with the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) database that was causing Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL) to appear to be expired. According to CBP, Truck manifest filers should not be receiving rejected manifests based on expired CDLs.