On 19 April, President Trump issued an Executive Order providing for a temporary 90‑day deferral, of estimated payments of duties, taxes, and fees to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by importers “suffering significant financial hardship” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Latest from Focus on Regulation - Page 9
Second Circuit Panel Sides with the Ninth Circuit Panel on What Qualifies as an Autodialer
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Duran v. La Boom Disco, Inc. has interrupted the emerging consensus around the definition of “autodialer” in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). On April 7,
An update on cooperation in the life sciences industry: the European Commission’s framework for sending “comfort letters” on cooperation efforts for essential products
The European Commission has published a Temporary Framework Communication to provide guidance to companies that are cooperating to ensure the supply and distribution of essential products – including medicines and medical equipment – during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Communication sets
Executive Order Creates Committee to Replace “Team Telecom” Review of Foreign Telecom Investments
President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order creating a new multiagency process for Executive Branch review of telecommunications-related applications and licenses involving foreign participation in the telecommunications sector. The newly established Executive Branch committee ostensibly replaces the review currently conducted
EU suspends tariffs on medical equipment
Following requests from numerous Member States, on 3 April the European Commission (“Commission”) adopted Commission Decision (EU) 2020/491 (“the Decision”), which provides for relief from import duties and VAT for goods imported in the EU to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
President Trump Signs Bipartisan Broadband Mapping Legislation
Trump signed the Broadband DATA Act, which requires the FCC to collect and disseminate data about broadband availability and establish processes to ensure data accuracy.
Customs Rescinds Proposal to Extend Payment of Duties in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic; Requires Payment of Deferred Duties Not Granted Extension
US Customs and Border Protection (“Customs”) rescinded its proposal to grant extensions on all customs duty payments for 90 days in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. While Customs has conducted a limited case-by-case review of some requests for extensions of
FCC Confirms that Certain COVID-19 Communications Fall Within the TCPA’s “Emergency Purposes” Exception
Hospitals, health care providers, health officials, and other government officials may use automated calls and text messages to communicate information about COVID-19 when “necessary to protect the health and safety of citizens,” without violating the TCPA. The FCC released the
COVID-19: Actions taken by EU competition authorities – will the HCC’s approach go viral?
Within the first week of the confinement measures in Europe, the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) was one of the first EU competition authorities to announce a more lenient approach towards certain vertical agreements, as a way to address severe
CSSMA Highlights WRC Advocacy, Earth Station Service Industry
The CSSMA meeting was part of ongoing efforts to develop the smallsat industry by facilitating spectrum coordination and harnessing the industry’s voice on pertinent matters.