Source: http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2004/11/04.asp
Timestamp: 2017-09-25 15:08:40
Document Index: 626853352

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6']

TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,011, November 4, 2004.
November 4, 2004, 9:00 AM ET, Alert No. 1,011.
11/02. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the agenda [PDF] for its meeting on Tuesday, November 9, 2004. The agenda includes Vonage's voice over internet protocol (VOIP) related petition for a declaratory ruling.
Vonage seeks a ruling that its service is an "information service" and that federal policy preempts state action in this area. Vonage filed its petition on September 22, 2003. See, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, and part 6 [slow downloading PDF scans].
Vonage is also litigating this issue. On October 16, 2003, the U.S. District Court (DMinn) issued its Memorandum and Order [PDF] in Vonage v. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, holding that Vonage is an information service provider, and that the MPUC cannot apply state laws that regulate telecommunications carriers to Vonage. The Court wrote that "State regulation would effectively decimate Congress's mandate that the Internet remain unfettered by regulation." See, story titled "District Court Holds that Vonage's VOIP is an Information Service" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 760, October 17, 2003.
Michelle Carey, the Division Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau's (WCB) Competition Policy Division, stated at an FCC event on September 29 that "this year" the WCB may "come up with an order on jurisdiction". See, story titled "FCC Officials Discuss VOIP Regulation" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 988, October 1, 2004.
The FCC will also consider a Memorandum Opinion and Order regarding changes to its rules applicable to the 4.940-4.990 GHz Band. The FCC adopted (on April 23, 2003), and released (on May 2, 2003), a Memorandum Opinion and Order and Third Report and Order [50 pages in PDF] (FCC 03-99) establishing licensing and service rules for 4.940-4.990 GHz band.
The FCC issued a release [PDF] in 2003 in which it stated that the adopted rules "are intended to promote spectrum access for a variety of new broadband applications such as high-speed digital technologies and wireless local area networks for incident scene management, dispatch operations and vehicular operations. This action also promotes interoperability by providing a regulatory framework in which traditional public safety entities can pursue strategic partnerships with both traditional public safety entities, such as the Federal Government, and non-traditional public safety entities, such as utilities and commercial entities, in support of their missions regarding homeland security and protection of life and property."
Finally, representatives of the FCC's International Bureau will present a report on the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), held on October 5, 2004.
At issue is ACR's consumer products named Public Locator Beacon, or PLB. ACR asserted that it never marketed the products to the general public. However, it advertised in outdoor and sporting publications. The NAL states that "we find that ACR apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a) of the Rules, by advertising the PLB-200 to the general public, prior to certification without the disclaimer notice required by Section 2.803(c)."
The FCC adopted this NAL on October 27, but released it on November 3, 2004. This NAL is FCC 04-259. See also, FCC release.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell addressed enforcement of the FCC's rules regarding RF devices in a speech [5 pages in PDF] on October 27, 2004. He addressed rules applicable to wireless internet service providers (WISPs). He stated that "I hear concerns from the WISP community that -- while it's not a significant number -- not everyone is playing by the rules -- that a few folks out there are using non-FCC certified equipment or are installing power amplifiers to boost their signals beyond allowable limits. Understand this directly from me -- we are fully committed to enforcing our technical rules."
TPA was enacted in 2001 by passage of HR 3009, the "Andean Trade Preference Act", which also includes TPA. The House had previously passed an earlier version of TPA in HR 3005, the "Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001". HR 3009 became Public Law No. 107-210.
Finally, he stated that "I also hope we�ll be able to open up world services and agricultural markets to U.S. exports through World Trade Organization negotiations. So far, we�ve taken full advantage of trade opportunities, and I�m confident we won�t let them wither on the vine."
Sen. Grassley wrote in a statement released on November 3, 2004 that "The bipartisan tradition will continue. Senator Baucus and I have worked together many times to move legislation forward, and I believe we�ll do that many more times. Even with the Republican gain of Senate seats, bipartisanship will still be the grease that keeps the legislative engine moving."
A key measure of the divide in the House is the roll call vote on December 6, 2001 on passage of HR 3005, the "Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001". The House approved this bill by a vote of 215-214.
3:00 - 6:30 PM. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a program titled "Federalism under the Influence: Dope, Booze, and the Commerce Clause". There will be three panel discussions. The first, titled "Uncorking the Commerce Clause", will address the Swedenburg v. Kelly and consolidated cases, which involve Commerce Clause challenges to state barriers to internet sales, and other direct sales, of alcoholic beverages. The speakers on this panel include Brannon Denning (Cumberland School of Law), Todd Zywicki (George Mason University), and Hewitt Pate (Department of Justice). See, notice. Location: AEI, 12th floor, 1150 17th St., NW.