Net neutrality rules would harm consumers and thwart competition, according to a preliminary review of groups’ responses to the FCC’s call for comments on whether network access rules are needed. Most groups responding were telecom-related businesses, free-market advocacy organizations and trade associations. All said imposition of regulation would hinder development of the next-generation Internet and contended there’s no need for the rules since current govt. regulations can punish any discriminatory behavior.

New Games and Accessories: In its 6th week available, Activision’s Spider-Man 3 on PS2 was again the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended June 10… Mad Catz Interactive signed a license deal with the National Hockey League allowing it to produce customized NHL team controllers and other accessories for all videogame platforms, Mad Catz said. Terms weren’t disclosed. The multi-year deal allows Mad Catz to distribute licensed products throughout the U.S. and Canada, it said. The accessory maker is now able to offer licensed accessories for fans of each of N. America’s 4 major sports leagues, it said.

The International Trade Administration has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping duty administrative reviews:

The International Trade Administration has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping duty administrative reviews:

Download store provider BurnLounge beat back a request for a temporary restraining order by the FTC in U.S. Dist. Court, L.A., the company and agency said separately. But the FTC will make its case for a preliminary injunction at a June 18 hearing, an FTC spokeswoman told us. The complaint names Chmn. Alex Arnold and BurnLounge promoters John Taylor, Rob DeBoer and Scott Elliott as defendants. Purchasers of the basic $29.95 per month package can earn reward points to convert to music purchases, and for an extra $6.95 per month, they can redeem points for cash. The company provides “much larger rewards” for recruiting than actually selling downloads, the FTC said, citing pitches by defendants in recruitment sessions implying that participants could make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through BurnLounge stores. The BurnLounge compensation plan “mathematically dictates” that the points-for-cash participants, called “Moguls,” “will spend more money to participate in BurnLounge than they have earned through their involvement with the company,” with most making far less than advertised, the FTC complaint said. BurnLounge “remains committed to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,” attorney Sheldon Sloan said: “The company’s business continues uninterrupted and it will defend itself vigorously in subsequent court hearings.”

GENEVA -- Preliminary ITU approval of major updates to 3G radio interfaces for IMT-2000 and a new IEEE 802.16/WiMAX variant radio interface are fueling rivalry to cut operator costs and improve services, performance and data rates for consumers, industry officials said. Opposition from Qualcomm, Ericsson and China countered ITU member states’s strong support during a May 23-31 ITU-R WP-8F (Working Party- 8F) meeting in Kyoto, Japan.

GENEVA -- Preliminary ITU approval of major updates to 3G radio interfaces for IMT-2000 and a new IEEE 802.16/WiMAX variant radio interface are fueling rivalry to cut operator costs and improve services, performance and data rates for consumers, industry officials said. Opposition from Qualcomm, Ericsson and China countered ITU member states’s strong support during a May 23-31 ITU-R WP-8F (Working Party- 8F) meeting in Kyoto, Japan.

The Me. legislature gave preliminary approval to a much- weakened net neutrality bill (LD-1675) now recast as a resolution. Both chambers agreed to drop language that would have barred ISPs from interfering with Internet users’ ability to offer or receive content, applications or services, and from discriminating based on Internet content’s source, destination or ownership. The chambers agreed on a resolution directing the Office of Public Advocate to monitor FCC and congressional actions related to network neutrality, gauge their impact on the state’s ability to protect Internet users and report to the Joint Utilities & Energy Committee by Feb. 1, 2008. Under the proposed resolution, that office would monitor other states’ legislative and regulatory actions in regard to network neutrality, and govt. and private efforts in Me. to expand broadband availability. The measure returns to the floor of each chamber for a final vote on passage. The legislature is to adjourn June 20 for the year.

The International Trade Commission Thurs. voted to bar the importation of Qualcomm chipsets and circuit board modules or carriers containing them, on grounds that they infringe Broadcom patents. But in a partial win for Qualcomm and U.S. carriers concerned about the effect on the rollout of 3G networks, the ITC said it will keep allowing devices based on models imported into the U.S. through Thurs. “The Commission found that an order excluding all downstream products would impose great burdens on third parties, given the limited availability of alternative downstream products not containing the infringing chips,” the ITC said: “The Commission determined that barring importation of downstream products, with an exemption for certain previously imported models, will substantially reduce the burdens imposed on third parties while affording meaningful relief to the patent holder.” An ITC judge last year sided with Broadcom and recommended an outright ban. In March, the ITC held an unusual 2-day hearing to take testimony on a remedy. Public safety groups and wireless industry players testified in Qualcomm’s behalf, citing harms of a ban. During a panel discussion Thurs. at the Broadband Summit, Kathleen Ham, managing dir. of regulatory affairs for T-Mobile, said a ban would have been very bad for carriers, since much of their equipment contains Qualcomm chips. “We're a little behind in terms of launching UMTS,” she said: “To do that, we need handsets. We're watching this case very closely.” “Our preliminary assessment is that this is bad news for Qualcomm and its wireless carrier customers, because they revise and turn over their handset models rapidly,” Stifel Nicolaus said.

The Me. legislature gave preliminary approval to a much- weakened network neutrality bill (LD-1675) now recast as a resolution. Both chambers agreed to drop language that would have barred ISPs from interfering with Internet users’ ability to offer or receive content, applications or services, and from discriminating based on Internet content’s source, destination or ownership. The chambers agreed on a resolution directing the Office of Public Advocate to monitor FCC and congressional actions related to network neutrality, gauge their impact on the state’s ability to protect Internet users and report to the Joint Utilities & Energy Committee by Feb. 1, 2008. Under the proposed resolution, that office would monitor other states’ legislative and regulatory actions in regard to network neutrality, and govt. and private efforts in Me. to expand broadband availability. The measure returns to the floor of each chamber for a final vote on passage. The legislature is to adjourn June 20 for the year.