Two draft preliminary views were approved, with corrections, at a Thurs. meeting of the 2nd Informal Working Group (IWG-2) for the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). It was the group’s last meeting before the WRC Advisory Committee (WAC) meets June 8. While agenda item 1.21 -- proposing to look at studies on the compatibility of radio astronomy services and active space services -- caused little discussion at a previous meeting (CD May 13 p14), there were questions about the scope of several of the views presented. Discussions centered on the 3rd view, which suggested that the results of certain studies should be used to determine whether it would be appropriate to specify band pairs for compatibility. Ultimately, the group eliminated that view and modified the remaining views to say: (1) Resolution 740 (from WRC-03) would determine the band pairs and threshold levels that would be reviewed based on the results of compatibility studies. (2) If Table 1-1 or 1-2 from Resolution 739 (WRC-03) is updated, it should also be based on the ongoing studies. (3) “Any studies to develop thresholds associated with band pairs from Resolution 740 should fully consider the impact to the concerned active services in order to ensure that those active services are not unduly constrained.” No changes were made to a 2nd item (agenda item 1.6). Changes proposed in a previous meeting were adopted. The item requests consideration for allocation additional bandwidth for aeronautical mobile satellite services (AMSS) between 108 MHz and 6 GHz and a study of current allocations. IWG-2 also had lengthy discussions on several views prepared by the Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS). Multiple proposals were made to the group for changes to RCS agenda item 1.19, which asks to “consider the results of the ITU-R studies regarding spectrum requirement for global broadband satellite systems” to look at harmonizing globally fixed satellite service (FSS) frequency bands for broadband. After considerable discussion, IWG-2 determined it would be more valuable to present a preliminary view rather than corrections to the RCS view. Final views will be determined on circulation among the group but IWG-2 came to the following tentative conclusions: (1) Identifying specific frequencies for broadband applications isn’t necessary. (2) The idea of making the bands more useful is a “supported” view, but the group doesn’t support replanning the band.

(a) Viraj has an AD cash deposit rate of zero; however, suspension of liquidation will continue.

The PS2 version of Take-Two Interactive’s Red Dead Revolver was the #1-rented videogame in the U.S., Rentrak’s preliminary Home Video Essentials data for the week ended May 23 showed Thurs. Rentrak said the title moved up one notch and earned an additional $292,283 in its 3rd week available, for $708,067 to date. Take-Two’s Xbox version of the title moved up 3 notches to #5, earning an additional $173,701, for $422,707 to date. Eidos and Electronic Arts (EA) also each had 2 SKUs in the top 10. Eidos’s were Hitman: Contracts for PS2 at #2 (down one, 5th week, $246,485 in the week, $1.38 million to date) and the Xbox version at #8 (down one, $135,006 in the week, $771,218 to date). EA’s -- both for PS2 -- were Need for Speed Underground at #7 (down 2, 27th week, $170,801 and $7.97 million) and Fight Night 2004 at #10 (up 2, 7th week, $125,960 and $814,027). Rounding out the top 10 were one PS2 title each from Midway Games, Sony Computer Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games and Atari: Respectively, NBA Ballers at #3 again in its 7th week ($223,145 and $1.74 million), Syphon Filter: Omega Strain at #4 again in its 3rd week ($182,411 and $411,444), Van Helsing at #6 again in its 3rd week ($171,354 and $409,753) and Transformers Armada at #9 (up 4 in its 3rd week, $127,700 and $250,644).

The ITA states that with respect to subject merchandise from Argentina, it has calculated a CV net subsidy industry-wide rate of (a) 5.77% for the 2001 period, and (b) 0.57% for the 2002 period, and will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess CV duties on all appropriate entries.

New Games: Yourself!Fitness (CED May 27 p7) will ship for Xbox “on or about October 1” in the U.S., a spokeswoman for ResponDesign said. She said that, “at this time, the preliminary price of the game is $49.95.” She added that a “distribution plan is being finalized and a list of retailers will be announced this summer”… Midway Games boasted Thurs. that its MLB SlugFest: Loaded will be “the first-ever videogame to implement Microsoft’s recently announced updates to Xbox Live 3.0 via customizable, online tournaments.” The baseball game is expected to ship June 21 for Xbox at $39.99 in the U.S. Xbox Live Mktg. Dir. Julia Miller confirmed that Midway was the first publisher “to take advantage of the tournaments feature added to Xbox Live.” A version of the game is also set to ship for PS2 the same day… Mobliss said it teamed up with Tribal DDB Worldwide to create a text messaging trivia game -- Air Force Snap Decisions -- for the U.S. Air Force. It said the game will be promoted starting Sat. “and is expected to last through June.” The game will be available to wireless subscribers at 3 events in conjunction with the Air Force’s “Cross Into the Blue” Tour… Codemasters said its game IndyCar Series 2005 was on track to ship for Xbox June 22.

These preliminary results are not in effect and may be amended in the final results of these CV duty administrative reviews which are currently due within 120 days of May 11, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that it is postponing the preliminary countervailing (CV) duty determination on live swine from Canada until no later than August 16, 2004 (from June 11, 2004).

Ad spending rose 7% in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, with gains across major media, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen. Cable had the biggest gain, 16%, while network TV grew 10.4%. Spot TV grew 7.1% and spot radio rose 2.7%. Network radio rose 3.2%. But Spanish-language TV had a 12.9% decline in ad spending in the quarter. Nielsen predicted continuing growth because of the Olympics and the presidential campaign. Biggest ad spenders remain the automotive factory sector, followed by prescription drug makers and the motion picture industry.

The ITA states that the China-wide rate applies to all entries of subject merchandise produced in China except for entries from exporter or producers that are identified individually above.

On May 20, 2004 the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reported its amended version of S. 2279, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2004. S. 2279 has been placed on the Senate calendar, but no further action has yet been taken.