In a win for Bells and FCC Chmn. Martin, the Commission opened what officials called a “broad” inquiry into its power to ensure municipalities fairly award broadband franchises. Unveiling a proposed rulemaking on local franchise authority (LFA) obligations, FCC staff said they “tentatively” found the Communications Act allows Commission oversight in this area.

The CPB Wed. defended discussing in closed session an inspector gen.’s report on the Tomlinson investigation and withholding the report from immediate release. “Premature” release of information may be “harmful to the corporation’s interest,” CPB said. The board, whose reviewing of the report began Tues., has drawn fire from media groups for closing the sessions to the press and the public.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of canned pineapple fruit from Thailand for the period of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of small diameter seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from Brazil for the period of August 1, 2003 through July 31, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has made a final affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determination that superalloy degassed chromium from Japan is being, or is likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The period of investigation for the subject merchandise from Japan is January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice of correction with regard to both the preliminary and final results of its eighth CV duty administrative review of certain pasta from Italy, which had a review period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty new shipper review of certain forged stainless steel flanges from India for the review period of February 1, 2004 through July 31, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty new shipper review of certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon quality steel products for the review period of March 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that on September 30, 2005, it received an antidumping (AD) duty petition requesting that an AD investigation be initiated on liquid sulfur dioxide from Canada.

In its first week available, the PS2 version of Take- Two Interactive’s The Warriors was the top-rented videogame in the U.S., according to preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended Oct. 23. The SKU earned $330,000 in rentals during the week, Rentrak said. The Xbox version was #3 ($280,000). The top 10 included 2 other new games, both for PS2: Midway’s Blitz: The League at #7 ($200,00) and Activision’s Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland at #9 ($180,000). Midway and Activision each had one other game in the top 10, also both for PS2: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks at #10 (down 7 in its 6th week, $180,000) and Ultimate Spider-Man for PS2 at #5 (down 3 in its 5th week, $230,000), respectively. EA also had 2 titles in the top 10, both for PS2: Madden NFL 06 at #2 (down one in its 11th week, $300,000) and NCAA Football 06 at #8 (down 3 in its 15th week, $190,000). Rounding out the top 10 were Sony’s SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs for PS2 at #4 (up 11 in its 2nd week, $230,000) and Ubisoft’s Far Cry Instincts for Xbox at #6 (down 2 in its 4th week, $210,000).