Source: http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2005/01/04.asp
Timestamp: 2017-09-19 22:27:30
Document Index: 345516710

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 309', '§ 1961', '§ 16', '§ 1962', '§ 1962', '§ 1964', '§ 2242']

TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,049, January 4, 2005.
January 4, 2005, 9:00 AM ET, Alert No. 1,049.
FCC Publishes Notices For Rules and FNPRM Regarding Children's Programming Obligations of DTV Broadcasters
1/3. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a notice in the Federal Register that describes and sets comment deadlines for its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding the children's programming obligations of digital television broadcasters. Comments are due by March 1, 2005. Reply comments are due by April 1, 2005.
The FCC adopted its Report and Order and FNPRM at its September 9, 2004 meeting. It released the text on November 23, 2004. This item is FCC 04-221 in MM Docket 00-167. See, Federal Register, January 3, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 1, at Pages 63-68. See also, story titled "FCC Adopts Report and Order Re Children's Programming Obligations of DTV Broadcasters" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 975, September 13, 2004.
The FCC published a separate notice in the Federal Register that describes, recites, and sets the effective dates for the final rules adopted in the Report and Order portion of this item. Some provisions take effect on February 1, 2005. Others take effect on January 1, 2006. The effective dates for some provisions have not yet been set. See, Federal Register, January 3, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 1, at Pages 25-38.
12/28. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion [6 pages in PDF] in NJTV v. FCC, an appeal of final order dismissing NJTV's application to build a low-power television broadcast station.
The Court also wrote that "The FCC has in fact read § 309(j) as placing low-power stations within the auction process. ... We of course do not prejudge the validity of this conclusion, ..."
12/27. The U.S. Court of Appeals (11thCir) issued its opinion [21 pages in PDF] in Kemp v. AT&T., a case regarding AT&T's fraudulent billing of gambling charges as long distance charges.
This case has also been styled Sykes v. AT&T in the past. For more of the facts and procedural history of this case, see the February 13, 2002 opinion of the Court of Appeals that reversed the District Court's class certification order.
The plaintiffs filed a complaint in U.S. District Court (SDGa) against AT&T. They also sought class action status. The complaint alleged numerous causes of action. However, for the purposes of the present Appeals Court opinion, two are pertinent: (1) civil violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which is codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968, and (2) civil violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which is codified at O.C.G.A. § 16-14-1 et seq. The plaintiffs requested, among other relief, actual damages and punitive damages.
18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) provides that "It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt."
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) also provides that "It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section."
18 U.S.C. § 1964(c) then provides a private right of action. It states that "Any person injured in his business or property by reason of a violation of section 1962 of this chapter may sue therefor in any appropriate United States district court and shall recover threefold the damages he sustains and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee, except that no person may rely upon any conduct that would have been actionable as fraud in the purchase or sale of securities to establish a violation of section 1962. The exception contained in the preceding sentence does not apply to an action against any person that is criminally convicted in connection with the fraud, in which case the statute of limitations shall start to run on the date on which the conviction becomes final."
The Appeals Court held that "In order to bring a RICO claim where mail or wire fraud serves as the predicate activity, it is necessary to show that (1) the defendant intentionally participated in a scheme to defraud another of money or property, (2) the defendant used the mails or wires in furtherance of that scheme, and (3) the plaintiff relied to his detriment on the defendant’s misrepresentations."
1/3. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Memorandum Opinion and Order in which it denied A-O Broadcasting Corporation's petition for reconsideration of the FCC's Forefeiture Order of December 29, 2003. The FCC fined A-O, the former licensee of FM radio station KTMN in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, $25,000 for failure to comply with radio frequency radiation maximum permissible exposure limits, failing to have Emergency Alert System equipment installed, and other violations. See also, FCC release.
1/3. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice in the Federal Register that states the February 11, 2005 at 5:00 PM is the deadline for submitting comments regarding countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. This is for the USTR's Special 301 review, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 2242. See, Federal Register, January 3, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 1, at Page 134.
1/3. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice in the Federal Register that states that January 10, 2005 is the suggested deadline for submitting comments to the USTR regarding the European Community's complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the Jobs Act, which replaced the Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) and Extraterritorial Income (ETI) tax regimes. See, Federal Register, January 3, 2005, Vol. 70, No. 1, at Pages 135-136. HR 4520 (108th Congress), the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, was a huge tax bill that included FSC/ETI repeal. President Bush signed it on October 22, 2004. It is now Public Law No. 108-357.
1/1. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a release [PDF] on the occasion of the U.S. Australia Free Trade Agreement going into effect.
10:00 AM. Thomas Donohue (P/CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) and Bruce Josten (VP for Government Affairs) will host a press breakfast. They will announce the U.S. Chamber's 2005 policy priorities, economic forecast and legislative outlook, and answer questions. RSVP to 202 463-5682 or press@uschamber.com. Location: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street, NW.
The House will meet at 11:00 AM. No votes are expected. See, Republican Whip Notice.
10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) will preside. See, notice. Location: Room 216, Hart Building.
2:30 PM. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge will participate in a press conference announcing the National Response Plan. The DHS's notice also states that "Press wishing to attend this event must present valid press credentials and arrive no later than 2:15 PM". Location: National Governors' Association, Hall of the States, 444 N. Capitol St., NW.
EXTENDED TO JANUARY 24. Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding service rules for advanced wireless services (AWS) in the 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2175-2180 MHz and 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands. The FCC adopted this NPRM at its September 9, 2004 meeting, and released the text on September 24, 2004. It is FCC 04-218 in WT Docket No. 04-356 and WT Docket No. 02-353. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 2, 2004, Vol. 69, No. 211, at Pages 63489-63498. See also, story titled "FCC Makes Additional 20 MHz of Spectrum Available for Advanced Wireless Services" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 975, September 13, 2004. See, extension notice in the Federal Register, November 30, 2004, Vol. 69, No. 229, at Pages 69572 - 69573.
10:00 AM. The U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir), Panel C, will hear oral argument in Rates Technology v. Nortel Networks (No. 04-1212). and Phonometrics v. Hospitality International (No. 04-1318). See, FedCir calendar. Location: Courtroom 402, 717 Madison Place, NW.