U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message announcing periodic monthly statement (PMS) date changes.

Broadcasters’ efforts to boost awareness of the DTV transition got a boost as NAB said it hired a staff of 4 to educate lawmakers, media, consumer and other groups and the public about the issue. Its “digital TV transition team” is part of a push to ensure consumers aren’t caught off-guard by the analog cutoff in Feb. 2009, said NAB Exec. Vp Dennis Wharton: “We want to make sure there is not some sort of revolt on the part of the consuming public because they haven’t been educated on what the consequences are of this transition.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site announcing that the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for tuna and skipjack, in airtight containers, not in oil, in containers, weighing with their contents not over 7 kg each, which opened on January 3, 2007, exceeded the preliminary TRQ limit at the opening. All entries presented at the over-quota (high) rate since the opening have been charged and may be released.

According to updated information on the draft February 3, 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) posted by the International Trade Commission, and ITC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, the following information has been clarified:

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that it is postponing the preliminary countervailing (CV) duty determinations on coated free sheet paper from Indonesia, China, and Korea by 65 days to no later than March 30, 2007.

Mediacom and Sinclair should go to binding arbitration to resolve their carriage spat, the FCC Media Bureau said in an opinion and order denying Mediacom’s emergency retransmission-consent complaint. Mediacom accused Sinclair of bad-faith negotiations and alleged Sherman Act violations in U.S. Dist. Court, Des Moines (CD Oct 10 p5). Mediacom’s license to carry 22 Sinclair-owned or operated stations in its markets expires Fri. The Media Bureau sided with Sinclair at every turn in Mediacom’s complaint, but said if the companies came to terms harm to consumers would be averted. The FCC can’t mandate an arbitrated agreement but “strongly [encourages] them to submit to binding arbitration,” the Media Bureau said. The order has implications for the entire broadcast industry, said Sinclair Gen. Counsel Barry Faber.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the countervailing (CV) duty administrative review of corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Korea for the period of January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

New Games: In its 9th week available, the PS2 version of Need for Speed Carbon from Electronic Arts (EA) was again the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., according to Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Dec. 31. There were no new games in the top 10… EA’s The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack was again the best-selling PC game in the U.S., according to NPD data for the week ended Dec. 23… Nyko Technologies will demonstrate next-generation versions of its Zero line of controllers for PS3 and Xbox 360 at CES next week, it said. The PS3 and Xbox 360 controllers, along with a version for PC, will ship in the first quarter of this year at $49.99 each. They feature 2.4 GHz wireless technology… N.Y. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter returns as the cover athlete of Take-Two Interactive’s Major League Baseball franchise in Major League Baseball 2K7, the publisher said Thurs. The game will ship “in late winter” for PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox, PSP and PS2, it said.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its countervailing (CV) duty administrative review of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Korea for the period of January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

The International Trade Commission has posted to its Web site draft 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapters, draft General Notes and a draft Notice to Exporters (drafts) that are not yet in effect, but will go into effect on or about February 3, 2007.