President Bush signed H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act, into law last Thursday, bringing to fruition months of work by TIA and countless other organization. The act contains broadband-specific grant legislation crafted with TIA's input.

Now the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) will administer a grant program for the development of advanced communications. TIA members interested in being involved with this program should contact Tom Shull at 703.907.7014 or tshull@tiaonline.org.

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TIA members doing business in Japan won an important, if easy to overlook, victory last week, as the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications(MIC) ruled against imposing the same Radio Utilization fee on unlicensed spectrum that is normally applied to its licensed counterpart.  

Radio Utilization fees were implemented to monitor developing technologies that utilize spectrum. They had never previously targeted devices operating the in the unlicensed spectrum bands.  Devices in this category that would have been adversely affected include wireless LANs, cordless phones, electronic toll collection devices, intelligent travel system and RFID chips. These unlicensed devices are generally exempt from the fee, due to their low power emissions, self-managed interference mitigation and the complexity of measuring the large and diverse device and user base for the devices.

MIC proposed the change last month, and a total of 63 organizations and individuals, including TIA and several TIA members, submitted opinions opposing collecting fees from manufacturers of unlicensed spectrum devices. The parties argued the change would lead to significant long-term impact on the market growth of unlicensed spectrum devices in several sectors. The regulatory body concluded last week that it wouldn't impose the fee based on overwhelming opposition.

For questions on the RUF or other international wireless issues, please contact Patrick Donovan at 703.907.7739 or pdonovan@tiaonline.org.

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The first round of government-to-government talks on ICT trade between the United States and Brazil opened this week, taking place in Brasilia and Sao Paulo. Ambassador Gross and FCC Commissioner Tate will participate in the high-level talks for the United States, and many major TIA member companies will also participate. 

TIA worked with the State Department to help shape the telecom agenda, providing a list of issues that will be discussed during next week’s government to government bilateral.  The association counseled the negotiators on the WTO, Brazil's regulatory agencies, the complexity of its tax system, intellectual property (IP) protection, local manufacturing and research and development (R&D) incentives, clearer emphasis by the Brazilian government on ICT management policy, consistency of government investments in ICT, and the burdensome nature of  "in-country" testing requirements.

If your company has an interest in participating in these talks, please contact Mike Nunes at 703.907.7725 or mnunes@tiaonline.org.

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TIA applauded the Senate and House of Representatives for passing the Conference report for H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act, by a vote of 367 to 57 in the House and under unanimous consent in the Senate.  The legislation is an important first step in reforming U.S. high-tech innovation policy.  TIA was instrumental in including language in the bill that authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to administer a grant program for basic research into advanced information and communications technologies through NSF. Such grants will enable U.S. manufacturers, many of which are TIA members, to roll out robust R&D programs while staying competitive in the global marketplace.

“This bill is a big win for high-tech innovators everywhere,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert.  “We worked tirelessly to educate Congress on the value of stepping up research on advanced communications in America, and we applaud the House for bringing that closer to fruition.”  The America COMPETES Act as a whole strengthens teacher training and education in science, technology, engineering and math; funds basic and interdisciplinary research; establishes new innovation incentives; and supports strategic efforts to build curriculums and research for the service sector, which accounts for 80 percent of the U.S. economy.

TIA also urges President Bush to sign the act into law.

For more information on TIA’s support for this and other legislation, contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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TIA commends the FCC’s vote to approve rules for its upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction last week, noting that TIA member companies can now begin crafting strategies around the availability of this incredibly important and valuable spectrum.  With auction rules finally in place after years of waiting, service providers and high tech manufacturers alike can make investments within and outside the auction, securing better networks and services for consumers, more revenue opportunity for companies, and funding for key government public safety measures.

TIA President Grant Seiffert saluted the vote, saying, “This auction is perhaps the most important event in wireless development in ten years. The commission has done its part to ensure that competitive, next-generation wireless technologies reach American consumers in all markets.”  TIA also applauds the FCC’s reconfiguration of the band to make 2 MHz more available for auction.

For more information on TIA’s work with the 700 MHz auction, contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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