Source: http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2003/12/16.asp
Timestamp: 2017-11-21 08:22:33
Document Index: 138066180

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'arts 2', '§ 252', '§ 332', '§ 332', '§ 6']

December 16, 2003, 9:00 AM ET, Alert No. 800.
12/15. The Department of Justice (DOJ) settled its civil antitrust lawsuit against First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc.. The DOJ had sued to stop the merger of these two personal identification number (PIN) debit networks. First Data has now agreed to divest its entire interest in NYCE Corporation in order to proceed with its proposed acquisition of Concord EFS.
On October 23, 2003, the DOJ, seven states, and the District of Columbia filed a complaint [28 pages in PDF] in U.S. District Court (DC) against First Data and Concord EFS, alleging that First Data's planned acquisition of Concord would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
See also, story titled "DOJ Sues to Stop Merger of PIN Debit Networks", also published in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 765, October 24, 2003.
See also, Hold Separate Stipulation and Order and the United States' Memorandum Regarding Procedures for Entry of Final Judgments, both filed on December 15.
Hewitt Pate (at right), the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the DOJ's Antitrust Division, stated in a release that "This settlement is a victory for American businesses and consumers ... The Division was prepared to show at trial that the acquisition, as originally proposed, would have caused merchants to pay higher prices for PIN debit transactions, which could have forced them to pass on those price increases to consumers. This settlement ensures that American businesses will pay competitive prices for PIN debit transactions and that consumers will benefit from that competition."
Concord EFS stated in a release that "In connection with the DOJ settlement, the two companies also agreed to new financial terms, with a new value of approximately $6.9 billion, based on First Data’s closing price on Friday, December 12, 2003, of $39.30. The revised merger agreement also extends the original January 31, 2004 end date to April 30, 2004 to allow sufficient time to obtain the necessary shareholder approvals of the revised terms. The revised agreement increases transaction certainty by eliminating many, but not all, conditions to completing the merger. The boards of both companies have approved the revised agreement."
12/15. The Supreme Court of California issued its opinion [MS Word] in The People ex rel. Thomas J. Orloff v. Pacific Bell, a case regarding the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and state prosecutors, to regulate telecommunications carriers. The Court held that carriers may be subject to simultaneous and overlapping proceedings before the CPUC and in the state courts.
12/12. The U.S. Court of Appeals (9thCir) issued its opinion [15 pages in PDF] in Kalantari v. NITV, a copyright infringement case in which the Appeals Court held that a person who imported and copyrighted three films from Iran did not loose copyright protection as a result of the trade embargo on Iran.
The Court also noted the legislative history. This language was introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), who is now the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, "to prevent the executive branch from restricting the international flow of materials protected by the First Amendment".
FCC Announces Deadlines for Comments on Unlicensed Devices NPRM
12/10. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a notice in the Federal Register summarizing, and providing comment deadlines for, its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding unlicensed devices.
This notice states that comments are due by January 9, 2004, and that reply comments are due by January 26, 2004. See, Federal Register, December 10, 2003, Vol. 68, No. 237, at Pages 68823 - 68831.
The FCC adopted this NPRM on September 10, 2003. See, FCC release [PDF]. See also, story titled "FCC Announces NPRM Regarding Unlicensed Devices" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 739, September 15, 2003.
It released the NPRM [35 pages in PDF] on September 17, 2003. This NPRM is FCC 03-223 in ET Docket No. 03-201.
The NPRM states that it proposes to " 1) modify the rules to permit the use of advanced antenna technologies with spread spectrum devices in the 2.4 GHz band; 2) modify the replacement antenna restriction for Part 15 devices; 3) modify the equipment authorization procedures to provide more flexibility to configure transmission systems without the need to obtain separate authorization for every combination of system components; 4) harmonize the measurement procedures for digital modulation systems authorized pursuant to Section 15.247 of the rules with those for similar U-NII devices authorized under Sections 15.401- 15.407 of the rules; 5) modify the channel spacing requirements for frequency hopping spread spectrum devices in the 2.4 GHz band in order to remove barriers to the introduction of new technology that uses wider bandwidths; 6) clarify the equipment authorization requirements for modular transmitters; and 7) make other changes to update or correct Parts 2 and 15 of our rules." (Footnote omitted.)
The NPRM also request comments on ways the FCC "might improve spectrum sharing among unlicensed devices".
This item follows the July 31, 2001 opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals (10thCir) in Qwest v. FCC, 258 F.3d 1191, which reversed and remanded the FCC's Ninth Order "because it does not provide sufficient reasoning or record evidence to support its reasonableness." See also, the FCC web page titled "Tenth Circuit Remand".
The FCC announced, but did not release, this item on October 16, 2003. See, FCC release [PDF]. See also, story titled "FCC Announces Order on Remand Regarding High Cost Universal Service Support Mechanism" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 761, October 20, 2003.
The first notice summarizes the Order on Remand and Memorandum Opinion. It also states that its effective date is January 14, 2004. It is published at Federal Register, December 15, 2003, Vol. 68, No. 240, at Pages 69622 - 69627.
The second notice summarizes the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM). It also states that the deadline for comments is January 14, 2004, and that the deadline for reply comments in February 13, 2004. It is published at Federal Register, December 15, 2003, Vol. 68, No. 240, at Pages 69641 - 69647.
9:00 AM. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Under Secretary Janet Hale and Chief Financial Officer Bruce Carnes will host an Industry Vendor Day for the eMERGE² (Electronically Managing Enterprise Resources for Government Efficiency and Effectiveness) program. Location: Crystal City Marriott Hotel, Crystal Forum Theater, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway. Arlington, VA.
Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding Northland Networks' petition pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e)(5) requesting that the FCC preempt the jurisdiction of the New York Public Service Commission to resolve a dispute between Northland and Verizon regarding reciprocal compensation and change of law provisions of their interconnection agreements. This is WC Docket No. 03-242. See, FCC notice [PDF].
12/12. The U.S. Court of Appeals (1stCir) issued its opinion in Metheny v. Kembel, a dispute involving a local zoning board's issuance of a variance permitting Omnipoint Communications to construct a wireless telecommunications tower. Although, the present opinion addresses only the issue of federal question jurisdiction.
The Appeals Court held that, notwithstanding 47 U.S.C. § 332, and especially, 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(i)(II), the federal courts lacked jurisdiction over this case. This case involved the preclusive effect of a prior federal judgment.
12/15. Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) announced that he will not seek reelection to the Senate in 2004. He has represented Louisiana in the Senate since 1986. Before that, he a member of the House of Representatives. He is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and its Communications Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee. See, Sen. Breaux release and statement by President Bush.
12/15. Torie Clarke (at right) was named Senior Advisor for Communications and Government Affairs at Comcast Corporation, effective January 1, 2004. She was previously Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. She has also worked for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. She is also a former VP of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). See, Comcast release.
12/12. David Wajsgras was appointed to the Board of Directors of 3Com Corporation. Wajsgras is SVP and CFO of Lear Corporation, an automotive interiors supplier. See, 3Com release.
12/15. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in F. Hoffman-LaRoche v. Empagran, No. 03-724. See, Order List [7 pages in PDF at page 1]. This is an antitrust case involving vitamin companies. At issue is whether the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act of 1982, which is codified at 15 U.S.C. § 6a, provides jurisdiction under the Sherman Act over the claims of a foreign plaintiff injured by a conspiracy having direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable anticompetitive effects on U.S. trade or commerce, when the foreign plaintiff's claimed injury does not arise from those domestic effects. See also, January 17, 2003 opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) in Empagran v. F. Hoffman-LaRoche, No. 01-7115.
12/12. Lucent Technologies stated in a release that "it received final district court approval of its agreement to settle pending shareowner and related litigation against the company, certain of its current and former officers and directors, and certain other defendants." This is In Re Lucent Technologies Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, D.C. No. 00-CV-621, and consolidated cases.
12/12. The U.S. District Court (DMass) issued an order [14 pages in PDF] in In Re Lernout & Hauspie Securities Litigation.