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CEA Testifies Before Congress, Urges Pro-Trade Policies to Help Small Business Additional Links: Testimony of Sage Chandler 06/13/07 Contact: Sage Chandler Top Indie Bands Tout Digital Technologies at Digital Freedom Band Showcase The Digital Freedom Band Showcase featured live performances
from Jonathan Coulton, Baumer and Exit Clov, all top indie bands and
members of the Digital Freedom Campaign.
  Jonathan Coulton (left) and Baumer (right) perform during the Digital Freedom Band Showcase Additional Links: Digital Freedom Campaign Website Contact: Veronica O'Connell CEO of Victory Technologies Pushes Right to Repair Bill Before the MA Legislature On June 26, Bob Fields, CEO of Victory Technologies (a CEA member company) testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. He emphasized the importance of Right to Repair for consumers and independent installers. Additional Links: Testimony of Bob Fields 06/26/07 Contact: J. David Grossman  CEA to Host Hill Briefing on Consumer Attitudes Toward Broadband
On Monday, July 23 at 10:00am, CEA will host a briefing for Capitol Hill staff to discuss CEA's recently released broadband adoption study. The comprehensive study provides new consumer research on attitudes towards broadband adoption, including pricing and availability. Please join us. The Hill briefing will be held in the Longworth House Office Building, Room 1116. The complete results of the study will be made available at the briefing and posted on CEA's members-only website. Contact: Veronica O'Connell Rep. Engel Introduces Legislation to Codify DTV Education Plans On June 5, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) introduced the National Digital Television Consumer Education Act (H.R. 2566). The legislation outlines labeling and consumer education requirements for retailers and addresses the DTV Consumer Education Grant Program, which is authorized by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. Additional Links: Text of H.R. 2566 Contact: Julie Kearney "BATSA" Legislation Would Provide Relief from Onerous State Business Taxes The Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2007 ("BATSA"), introduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) on June 28, would require a physical nexus before business taxes are levied. Additional Links: Text of S. 1726 Contact: Michael Petricone Right to Repair Bill Introduced in House The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2007 (H.R. 2694) was introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns on June 13. CEA is working with The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE), the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and members of the Right to Repair Coalition to seek passage of this legislation. Additional Links: Text of H.R. 2694 Contact: J. David Grossman
FCC Rule Means New Freedom for Cable Consumers
As of July 1, the FCC will now enforce the cable set top box "common reliance" rules, an important step toward freeing consumers from being forced to lease a set top box from their cable company. The CableCARD rules require cable operators to make operational the CableCARD in their own set top boxes offered for lease to consumers. The FCC has repeatedly found that its rule provides cable companies with the necessary incentive to ensure that the CableCARDs are fully functional when used in competitive equipment, including set top boxes and digital cable ready televisions. Manufacturers have already shipped over eight million such competitive devices. In a June 29 decision, the FCC denied the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's (NCTA) request for a waiver of the integration ban for all cable operators. Additional Links: CEA Press Release 07/02/07 Contact: Julie Kearney FCC Action Brings Competition to Cable Devices Market On June 27, the FCC adopted on circulation a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that explores progress in providing consumers access to two-way plug-and-play devices that work on cable systems. In a press release issued by CEA, President and CEO Gary Shapiro said "This rulemaking proceeding promises to bring competition to the market by giving consumers the widest choices in both equipment and services. A competitive cable equipment market is still elusive 11 years after Congress required it, and we applaud the FCC for taking steps to ensure that innovation will no longer be stifled. Consumers and our economy will soon realize the benefits of a competitive market for products that can connect to cable systems. We look forward to helping the Commission develop a full record to move toward rapid conclusion of this proceeding.” Additional Links: CEA Press Release 06/28/07 Contact: Julie Kearney CEA Urges the FCC to Extend its Connectivity Principles to Wireless Broadband Internet Services Additionally, CEA's comments provide recently released market research data on consumer adoption of broadband. CEA's research shows that the cost of broadband is not driven by the number of service providers and broadband adoption is not influenced by the number of service providers in a given area. Additional Links: CEA Comments 06/15/07 Contact: Veronica O'Connell or Julie Kearney CEA's Julie Kearney Appointed to Rechartered FCC Consumer Advisory Committee On June 8, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin appointed 26 members to the rechartered Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC), including CEA's Julie Kearney. The Committee has been formed to focus on consumer education surrounding the digital television (DTV) transition. The first Committee meeting will be held on Friday, August 10, 2007. Additional Links: FCC News Release; CEA Press Release 06/18/07 Contact: Julie Kearney  2007 SINOCES Highlights Include U.S.-China Electronics Environmental Policy Forum
In conjunction with the China Consumer Electronics Show ('SINOCES') held July 6-9 in Qingdao, China, CEA held a series of policy discussions on various issues of relevance for in both countries. The U.S. - China Environmental Policy Forum, held on July 6th, showcased speakers from U.S. and Chinese government and industry, including Mr. Liu Zunwen from the Environmental Certification Center of the State Environmental Protection Agency in China, Mr. Edwin Pinero, Federal Environment Executive from the White House, Mr. Huang Jianzhong from the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry and drafter of China RoHS and various representatives from the electronics industries in both countries. Mr. Eliot R. Cutler, Partner Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, and Director of the Beijing Akin Gump office, served as the event’s moderator. Topics for discussion included Green Government Procurement, China's Accession to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), the Chinese Administrative Measure on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (or China ‘RoHS’), voluntary programs for environmental standardization and industry stewardship. The forum was attended by more than 80 industry and government representatives and began a pertinent dialogue that will surely continue in multiple fora going forward. Available presentations will be posted on the CEA Members website. If you have additional questions, please contact Parker Brugge or Joanne Sonenshine. New CEA International Industry Series White Paper Addresses Green Government Procurement In conjunction with SINOCES, CEA released a new International Insider Series White Paper entitled, "Green Government Procurement - The New Paradigm for Consumer Electronics." The paper examines Green Procurement initiatives and how these activities are affecting the CE industry. Additional Links: International Insider Series on Green Government Procurement Contact: Parker Brugge or Joanne Sonenshine
APEC Meeting Discusses Global Approach to Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
On June 24th, CEA's Parker Brugge represented the World Electronics Forum (WEF) at the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Facilitation Task Force (TFTF) of the Standards and Conformance Sub Committee (SCSC) in Cairns, Australia to present recommendations on how APEC may assist the electronics industry with RoHS on a global basis. At the meeting, WEF representatives shared lessons learned from RoHS so far (EU, China, California, etc), and presented an industry strategy on how to coordinate on RoHS principles globally to prevent multiple, inconsistent RoHS approaches across the globe. Among other things, WEF recommended establishing an APEC working party to engage with the electronics industry to bring together collective views and implementation strategies, especially if APEC economies could not agree to harmonization with existing requirements. It was agreed that the SCSC would continue this discussion at the Senior Officials Meeting to be held in Lima, Peru in February 2008. CEA will be meeting with the Department of Commerce and USTR to discuss next steps. The link to all SCSC documents can be found here: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/standards/Final%20Site/Country%20Information/Asia%20Pacific/APEC%20SCSC.htm. If you have specific questions, please contact Parker Brugge or Joanne Sonenshine. CEA Member? Visit CEA's Member-Only website
for the latest Government Affairs news, contact information and
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