 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal Legislation Would
Provide Business Tax Relief Contact: Michael Petricone or J. David Grossman
The bill establishes an overly broad definition of
Internet-enabled communication service and creates technical
requirements, which would
harm innovation and impact the development of technologies that benefit
persons with disabilities. CEA is working with manufacturers,
service providers, content providers and the disability community to
develop compromise language. Debate Over CPSC Reform Legislation Continues Members of the U.S. House and Senate continue to meet in order to reconcile differences between their respective versions of H.R. 4040, a bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Although a public hearing was held last week, several critical issues remain unresolved including: preemption language, public disclosure of information, whistleblower language and the state attorneys general provision. If you are a CEA member and are interested in following this issue, please contact J. David Grossman to join CEA’s Product Safety Working Group. Additional Links: Working Draft Conference Report 06/24/08  CEA Praises House DTV Hearing, Touts Industry Commitment to Consumer Education Following a hearing held earlier this month on the Digital TV transition, CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro issued a statement praising the progress made on the DTV transition. In his statement, Shapiro said: “The marketplace is working. The transition is working. Consumer awareness is rapidly growing with 74 percent of consumers familiar with the upcoming 2009 DTV transition, a jump from 41 percent in 2006, our industry and government partnerships on consumer education are successful. CEA remains committed to educating consumers, retailers, manufacturers and legislators about the transition to digital television. We look forward to working with Congress as they continue to work to ensure no consumer is left without knowledge of the digital transition.” Additional Link: CEA Press Release 06/11/08 Questions? Contact: Veronica O’Connell NTIA Considers DTV Converter Box Coupon Waiver for Nursing Home and PO Box Households CEA urged in a filing with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to make only modest changes to the Digital TV Converter Box Program to ensure the DTV transition remains on time. NTIA has expressed concerns that seniors in nursing communities might not have access to converter box coupons due to the coupons’ current address eligibility requirements, which mandate a consumer have a physical residential address in order to apply for a coupon. NTIA proposes that senior citizens in eligible nursing homes be able to order coupons. In addition, NTIA’s new proposed rules would allow those with PO Boxes to apply for coupons as well. CEA supports NTIA’s efforts to make certain those in nursing homes or with PO Boxes are able to make the transition to DTV. Additional Links: CEA Comments 6/09/2008 Questions? Contact: Veronica O’Connell  Taiwan Joins the U.S and Japan in Challenging European Technology Tariffs On Wednesday, June 11, Taiwan filed its first ever World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint and joined the U.S. and Japan as co-complainants against the European Union in an attempt to eliminate tariffs that have been in place since 2006. The EU places tariff rates as high as 14 percent on information technology products that received duty free treatment under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) signed in 1996. By doing so, the European Union is oppressing innovation and not living up to its commitments under the International Trade Agreement (ITA). This issue continues to remain a priority for CEA. In recent weeks, CEA has held briefings on Capitol Hill and met with several embassies seeking their involvement in the case. Additional Links: CEA Press Release 6/11/2008 Questions? Contact Sage Chandler CEA Expresses Concern Over “10+2” Legislation The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) division of the Department of Homeland Security has published proposed legislation commonly referred to as “10+2,” which references an increase in the number of regulations on importers. Under the proposal, cargo vessels and importers involved in the transportation of foreign goods entering a U.S. port would face an increased set of regulations. CEA has voiced concern to the U.S. Department of Commerce and Customs on the redundancy and potential delays caused by “10+2”. Additional Links: Text of the Proposed Rule Questions? Contact Sage Chandler Congress Considers Legislation to Remove Tariff on DTV Converter Boxes The February 17 2009 deadline for the congressionally mandated switch from analog to digital television transmission is rapidly approaching. CEA is actively supporting H.R. 5635, a bill that would temporarily waive the tariff placed on these converter boxes. The bill was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on March 13 of this year and has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Additional Links: Text of H.R. 5635 Questions? Contact Sage Chandler California Ports May Increase Regulations, Shipping Costs The California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have taken steps toward implementing container fees and the issuance of concession permits to trucking companies. These plans would increase the cost of shipping a single container by an estimated 43 percent and may force many independent truckers out of business. CEA and its members have voiced concern that excessive regulation of the trucking industry could stifle competitiveness and lead to the adoption of similar fees and regulations at ports across the country. Questions? Contact Sage Chandler First-Sale Doctrine Expected to Prevail First-Sale Doctrine places a limit on copyright and protects a reseller from infringement liability. This doctrine was first outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1908. Since its recognition, the First-Sale Doctrine has met occasional resistance and each time has been upheld by the federal courts. On February 8, 2008 Customs and Border Protection proposed a unilateral reinterpretation of the First-Sale statute. After providing comments to the Federal Register in opposition to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s proposal to revoke the well established First-Sale Doctrine, CEA has learned from high level government officials that the proposal has little support and will most likely be withdrawn from consideration. Questions? Contact Sage Chandler Hawaii’s Electronic Device Recycling Bill Would Place Undue Regulatory Burdens on CE Manufacturers In a letter sent this month to Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, CEA urged the governor to veto SB 2843, an electronic device recycling bill that would place undue regulatory burdens solely on the manufacturers of consumer electronics products. The electronics recycling measure now before the Governor includes a broader scope of products than any other e-waste legislative proposal enacted to date by any U.S. state legislature and requires large businesses, corporations, and governments to participate when they already have ready access to recycling services through their procurement practices. CEA favors a national solution that encourages shared financial responsibility for electronics recycling and consumer education. Additional Link: Veto Letter to Governor Lingle Questions? Contact: Parker Brugge Green Technology Exhibit Opportunity at China's Largest Consumer Technology Event  (SINOCES Green Zone
Design)
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), in a partnership with Vogel Burda Media (VBM), is pleased to provide your company with an opportunity to gain critical global exposure by showcasing your latest green technology products at a new green technology exhibition (the ‘Green Zone’) at the 2008 SINOCES, July 10-13, 2008, at the Qingdao International Convention Center, Shandong Province, Qingdao, China. CEA is offering members this opportunity on a complimentary basis For more information, please contact Joanne Sonenshine.  Last week, CEA filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Implementing a Nationwide, Broadband, Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700 MHz Band. CEA recommended that the Commission relax the conditions placed on the D Block licensee to ensure the viability of the public/private partnership model advocated by the Commission. In the alternative, CEA believes that if the FCC is unwilling to relax the conditions, the D Block should be auctioned as commercial spectrum, absent any partnership requirements. Additional Links: CEA Filing 06/20/08 Questions? Contact: Bill Belt   Digital
Freedom Campaign and Politico Partner to Celebrate Innovative Artists
& Technology with "DJ for a Day" Event
The Digital Freedom Campaign this month hosted a “DJ for a Day” event, allowing artists, innovators, policymakers, and consumers to demonstrate how they use digital technology and what digital freedom means to them. Featuring Digital Freedom Campaign Artist of the Month The Kin, the event, held at Lounge 201 on Capitol Hill, brought together decision makers and digital innovators to demonstrate how digital technology and balanced fair use rights have propelled an increasingly vibrant independent music scene. “Digital technology has blown open the traditional ways that artists can get their music out there to people and let them know about it,” said Isaac Koren of The Kin. “From ringtones to ‘per click’ ad revenue and downloads on digital TV, the artist and their audience now have fewer boundaries between them and more ways for the artist to earn a living.” CEA's Political Action Committee (CEAPAC) protects your freedom to build and sell consumer electronics products. Right now, outside interests are pushing Congress to impose design mandates that will raise costs and reduce our freedom to innovate. Other groups are urging severe restrictions on international trade that will harm our competitiveness and our bottom lines. What are the benefits of a vital CEAPAC? • CEAPAC ensures that CEA remains the strongest voice on issues critical to our industry • CEAPAC promotes our message of innovation and free markets • CEAPAC enables our industry to support policymakers who share our values How is CEAPAC funded? CEAPAC is funded solely through voluntary, personal contributions from the executive and administrative personnel of CEA's corporate members. Corporate contributions are prohibited under federal law. For more information, please fill out and fax the PAC authorization form or contact CEAPAC at 703-907-5223. CEA Member? Visit CEA's members-only website
for the latest Government Affairs news, contact information and
documents. Interested in joining CEA's
Government Affairs Council (GAC)? CEA
Government Affairs Staff
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
If you would like to be removed from this list, please click on or copy and paste the following link into your browser http://www.CE.org/emailmanagement and enter your e-mail address. Removal requests made any other way may not be processed |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
