Source: http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2008/04/23.asp
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 17:56:54+00:00

Document:
TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,752, April 23, 2008.
April 23, 2008, Alert No. 1,752.
4/22. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion [24 pages in PDF] in Rambus v. FTC, a antitrust case regarding Rambus's participation in the JEDEC standards setting process and assertion of patent rights. The Court of Appeals set aside the FTC's order concluding that Rambus violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act.
4/22. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court (CDCal) against Broadcom Corporation alleging violation of federal securities law in connection with backdating of stock options, and resulting overstatement of income. See, SEC release.
The SEC announced that it simultaneously settled with Broadcom. Under this settlement, Broadcom admits no wrongdoing, but consents to entry of an injunction against future violation of federal securities laws, and to pay a $12 Million fine.
The complaint alleges violation of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B), and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and various SEC rules thereunder.
This case is SEC v. Broadcom Corporation, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, D.C. No. SACV 08-00430 JVS (RNBx).
4/21. The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Donald Thacker v. FCC, a bankruptcy case involving spectrum licenses. See, Orders List [12 pages in PDF] at page 5.
This lets stand the September 17, 2007, opinion [PDF] of the U.S. Court of Appeals (9thCir).
In 1996 Magnacom Wireless obtained spectrum usage licenses at a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction. As a designated entity, it made only down payments, and signed security agreements that required periodic payments over ten years. The total purchase price was $55 Million. It failed to pay the FCC. It filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. The FCC sought and received from the Bankruptcy Court relief from the stay. The FCC then cancelled the licenses. It then auctioned the spectrum again, for $287 Million.
Donald Thacker, the trustee to the bankruptcy estate of Magnacom, filed a complaint seeking proceeds from this second auction. The Bankruptcy Court dismissed the complaint, the District Court affirmed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. Thacker then filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court.
See also, story "9th Circuit Rules on Effect of Bankruptcy on FCC Spectrum Licenses" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,640, September 17, 2007.
This case is Donald Thacker v. FCC, Supreme Court of the United States, Sup. Ct. No. 07-803, a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, App. Ct. No. 05-35839. The Court of Appeals heard an appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, D.C. No. CV-04-05681-FDB, Judge Franklin Burgess presiding. Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Betty Fletcher and Harry Pregerson joined. See also, Supreme Court docket.
4/22. President Bush announced his intent to nominate Jeffrey Sedgwick to be Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in charge of the Office of Justice Programs. He is currently this acting AAG. See, White House release.
4/21. Michael Halloran, Counselor to the Chairman and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will leave the SEC in May. See, SEC release.
4/23. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court (DKan) against Benjamin Rowner and Jay H. Soled alleging criminal conspiracy in connection with their defrauding of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) e-rate subsidy program. The DOJ also announced in a release that the two defendants have agreed to plead guilty.
4/22. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion in Star Wireless v. FCC, denying a petition for review of a final order of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that imposed a monetary forfeiture for violating the FCC's anti-collusion rule. This case is Star Wireless LLC v. FCC and USA, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, App. Ct. No. 07-1190, a petition for review of a final order of the FCC. Judge Rogers wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Henderson and Brown joined.
4/21. The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Joseph Ardito v. NBC Universal, Inc., Sup. Ct. No. 07-1142. See, Orders List [12 pages in PDF] at page 5. This lets stand the October 4, 2007, opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals (2ndCir). See also, Supreme Court docket.
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. It will consider HR 2830 [LOC | WW], the "Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008", pursuant to a rule. See, Rep. Hoyer's schedule for the week of April 21, and schedule for April 24.
The Senate will meet at 9:30 AM. It will resume consideration of HR 1315 [LOC | WW], the "Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2007".
Day one of a three day conference of the National Conference of State Legislature titled "Spring Forum". At 1:15 PM, there will be a panel titled "REAL ID: Final Rules ... State Responses". The speakers will include Kathleen Kraninger, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security. At 2:30 PM there will be a panel titled "Open Government: Transparency Online". At 2:45 PM there will be a panel titled "State Leadership on Health Information Technology". Location: Capital Hill Hyatt Regency, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW.
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) will host an event titled "IPI's Third Annual World Intellectual Property Day Event". The first panel is titled "Digital Technologies: Emerging Challenges, Evolving Strategies"; the speakers will be Solveig Singleton (IPI), Mitch Bainwol (RIAA), Dan Glickman (MPAA), and Steve Largent (CTIA). The second panel is titled "Social and Economic Benefits of IP: Who Wins? Who Loses?"; the speakers will be Susan Finston (IPI), Lien Verbauwhede Koglin (WIPO), Michael Gollin (Venable law firm), and Mohit Mehrotra (Excel Life Sciences). The third panel is titled "The Intellectual Property Marketplace: The Role of IP Valuation and Tech Transfer"; the speakers will be Bartlett Cleland (IPI), Usha Balakrishnan (Collaborative Social Responsibility Solutions), Abha Divine (Techquity), and Robert Cresanti (Ocean Tomo). The fourth panel is titled "Combating (Dangerous) Counterfeits: How Countries are Policing their Borders"; the speakers will be Chris Israel (IPI), Mike DuBose (Chief, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, Department of Justice), Nick Smith (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and Dave Walters (Cisco). This event is free. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Erin Humiston at 972-874-5139 or erin at ipi dot org. Location: 5th floor, Reserve Officer Association, 1 Constitution Ave., NE.
9:00 AM. Day two of a two day partially closed meeting of the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee. The April 24, 2008, meeting is closed, and its agenda is undisclosed. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 8, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 68, at Pages 19049-19050. Location: Room 3884, DOC, 14th St. between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will hold an executive session. The agenda includes consideration of SJRes 28, S 2607 [LOC | WW], and S 2507 [LOC | WW]. SJRes 28 provides "That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to broadcast media ownership (Report and Order FCC 07-216), received by Congress on February 22, 2008, and such rule shall have no force or effect." S 2607 amends Section 3009 of the "Deficit Reduction Act of 2005", which pertains to low power television and translators. S 2507 is the "DTV Border Fix Act of 2007". See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an executive business meeting. The agenda includes consideration of S 2533 [LOC | WW], the "State Secrets Protection Act". The agenda also includes consideration of three judicial nominees: Mark Davis (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia), David Kays (U.S.D.C., Western District of Missouri), and Stephen Limbaugh, (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Missouri). The SJC rarely follows its published agendas. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing titled "Turmoil in U.S. Credit Markets: Examining the U.S. Regulatory Framework for Assessing Sovereign Investments". The witnesses will be Scott Alvarez (Federal Reserve Board General Counsel), Ethiopis Tafara (SEC), David Marchik (Carlyle Group), and Jeanne Archibald (Hogan & Hartson). See, notice. Location: Room 538, Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet by conference call to prepare advice on submission of contributions to ITU-T SG16. (This is the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Technical Study Group Sixteen (Multimedia terminals, systems and applications).) See, notice in the Federal Register, February 28, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 40, at Page 10854. To participate, call 1-210-839-8500 or 1-888-455-9640. The passcode is 52902.
12:00 NOON - 6:30 PM. Day one of a two day meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering Advisory Committee. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 2, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 64, at Page 18007. Location: NSF, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1235, Arlington, VA.
12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The National Economists Club will host a lunch titled "Strings Attached? The Economics and Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds". The speaker will be Tim Adams (Lindsey Group, and former Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs). Location: Chinatown Garden Restaurant, 2nd floor, 618 H St., NW.
1:00 - 2:30 PM. The House Intelligence Committee will hold a closed hearing titled "Cyber". See, notice. Location: Room H-405, Capitol Building.
2:00 PM. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs's (SHSGA) Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management will hold a hearing titled "Beyond Control: Reforming Export Licensing Agencies for National Security and Economic Interests". See, notice. Location: Room 342, Dirksen Building.
2:30 PM. The Senate Commerce Committee's (SCC) Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation will hold a hearing titled "National Nanotechnology Initiative: Charting the Course for Reauthorization". See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
5:00 PM (2:00 PM PT). Rambus will hold its its regularly scheduled quarterly conference call. Rambus officers will also discuss the April 22, 2008, opinion [PDF] of the U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) granting Rambus's petition for review of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) orders concluding that Rambus violated competition laws in connection with patents and standards setting processes. See, Rambus release.
Deadline to submit nominations for two positions on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) Board of Directors. See, FCC notice.
Rep. Hoyer's schedule for the week of April 21 states that "no votes are expected in the House".
Day one of a three day conference of the National Conference of State Legislature titled "Spring Forum". At 11:00 AM there will be a panel titled "Communications Tax Issues". Location: Capital Hill Hyatt Regency, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW.
8:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. Day two of a two day meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering Advisory Committee. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 2, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 64, at Page 18007. Location: NSF, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1235, Arlington, VA.
Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) regarding a broadcast television substitution in Riverside, California. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 11, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 48, at Pages 12928-12929.
Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding competitive bidding procedures for its Auction 78, the AWS-1 and Broadband PCS auction, which is scheduled to commence on July 29, 2008. See, DA 08-767 and notice in the Federal Register, April 16, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 74, at Pages 20664-20672.
9:00 - 10:30 AM. Robert Atkinson, head of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), will present a report titled "Explaining International Broadband Leadership". See, notice. Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW.

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