12/2. President Bush signed into law S 602 [LOC | WW], the "Child Safe Viewing Act of 2007". See, White House news office release.

This act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), within 90 days, to initiate a notice of inquiry (NOI) "to consider measures to examine (1) the existence and availability of advanced blocking technologies that are compatible with various communications devices or platforms; (2) methods of encouraging the development, deployment, and use of such technology by parents that do not affect the packaging or pricing of a content provider's offering; and (3) the existence, availability, and use of parental empowerment tools and initiatives already in the market."

This act requires the FCC to consider not only cable and broadcast television, but also "wired, wireless, and Internet platforms", and not only TV sets, but also "DVD players, VCRs, cable set top boxes, satellite receivers, and wireless devices".

The act requires that the FCC then write a report for the Congress, within 270 days of enactment, detailing the findings of this NOI.

This act does not impose any obligations upon providers of video programming, device manufacturers, or others. Nor does it require the FCC to promulgate any new rules.

The FCC currently has no statutory authority to regulate internet based speech.

The act requires the FCC to consider "advanced blocking technologies" that "can filter language based upon information in closed captioning", that "operate independently of ratings pre-assigned by the creator", and that "may be effective in enhancing the ability of a parent to protect his or her child from indecent or objectionable programming, as determined by such parent".

It defines "advanced blocking technologies" as "technologies that can improve or enhance the ability of a parent to protect his or her child from any indecent or objectionable video or audio programming, as determined by such parent, that is transmitted through the use of wire, wireless, or radio communication."

See also, story titled "Senate Commerce Committee Approves Bill to Require FCC to Study Content Blocking Technologies" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,620, August 1, 2007.

12/2. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Deborah Tate gave a speech [14 pages in PDF] at the University of Pennsylvania titled "From the Boardroom to the Classroom: Piracy Impacts and Solutions". She suggested the conditioning of e-rate subsidies upon educating students regarding intellectual property rights (IPR).

The Congress has already tied certain federal subsidies to high education on IPR education, via HR 4137 [LOC | WW], the "College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008", which is now Public Law No. 110-315. See, story titled "House and Senate Pass Bill that Addresses P2P Infringement at Colleges" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,804, July 31, 2008.

One section of that act requires universities to advise their students about P2P infringement, federal copyright law, and university policy. Another requires universities to have a plan for dealing with unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.

Tate (at right) praised the piracy education requirements in this higher education act. She said that "This bill requires colleges to teach both students and employees about the dangers of illegal downloading, the personal liability associated with distributing copyrighted materials, and ensures that colleges assist students in accessing valuable digital information -- through legal channels. This bill takes another reasoned, calculated step towards eliminating piracy of copyrighted materials by students."

She then said that "The FCC should utilize the lessons learned from the Higher Education Act, and the strides private parties have made in educating young Americans, and encourage the use these tools to educate our youth about the dangers of piracy. If schools are utilizing government -- and by that I mean taxpayer -- funds to connect to the internet, we need to ensure that they are using this access only for legal uses."

The FCC already conditions the receipt of e-rate subsidies for schools on their taking efforts to protect children from online porn. This is required by 47 U.S.C. § 254(l).

Tate also described the extent of piracy on university networks, and the harm which piracy visits upon creators, employment, the economy, and government tax revenues.

She said that "With piracy becoming so prevalent on college campuses and with such a high amount of traffic devoted to P2P sites, much of which is illegal content, universities must manage their networks to ensure that those who need bandwidth to complete legitimate tasks can do so."

In August the FCC asserted authority to regulate network management practices. See, stories titled "FCC Asserts Authority to Regulate Network Management Practices" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,805, August 4, 2008, and "Comcast Files Petition for Review of FCC's Network Management Practices Order" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,821, September 4, 2008.

Tate continued that "Network management has a very positive role when it comes to eliminating online piracy, but much of the emphasis of network management is put on the restriction of lawful uses of the internet. The focus should be on how network management can help reduce illegal uses of the internet, allowing operators to effectively identify and remove pirated content traveling across their platforms. It's crucial that we not only allow operators to manage their networks, but to not tie their hands with prescriptive regulations."

She also cautioned that "we should be wary of creating harsh net neutrality regulation that could slow innovation. If net neutrality is implemented in its strictest form, with carriers not being able to distinguish between any packets, prioritizing more time-sensitive traffic such as video and VoIP traffic, we will have lost much of the innovation that makes the internet great, and may lose what progress we have made."

"We should let the market work as much as possible", said Tate.

11/25. The U.S. Court of Appeals (5thCir) issued its opinion [39 pages in PDF] in LSU v. Smack, affirming the judgment of the District Court. These courts extended trademark protection to "color schemes" that are neither registered, nor marks.

The University of Southern California (USC), Louisiana State University, Ohio State, and University of Oklahoma, are huge universities that are better known for their sports teams and color schemes than for their academics and contributions to science and technology.

Smack Apparel is a maker of t-shirts with the color schemes of these schools, with words such as "Beat Oklahoma" and "Home of the 8 Time National Champions!"

The universities, and the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court (EDLa) against Smack alleging federal trademark infringement and dilution, unfair competition, deceptive trade practices under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051–1141n, and unfair trade practices under the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, common law trademark infringement and unfair competition, and state trademark dilution.

The District Court granted summary judgment of trademark infringement to the universities. It held that the color schemes, logos, and designs on shirts referring to the schools or their accomplishments had acquired secondary meaning.

The Court of Appeals affirmed.

The 5th Circuit's opinions pertaining to intellectual property are not always predictable. Also, T-shirt color schemes are not technology related.

Nevertheless, this case demonstrates that universities in general, which sometimes hide behind 11th amendment immunity when they infringe the patents or copyrights of others, and which are often lax in managing their computer networks to limit copyright infringement, are afforded protection by the courts for infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Perhaps it is noteworthy that USC, one of the plaintiffs in this case, is a university that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has repeated identified as a location of P2P piracy. It has written to USC, and sued its students. See for example, the RIAA's March 23, 2004 release, April 12, 2005 release, May 26, 2005 release, October 26, 2005 release, December 15, 2005 release, October 18, 2007 release, December 6, 2007 release,  February 21, 2008 release, and February 28, 2008 release (which also pertains to LSU).

This case is Louisiana State University, et al. v. Smack Apparel Co., et al., U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, App. Ct. Nos. 07-30580 and 07-30887, appeals from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Judge Reavley wrote the opinion of the Court of Appeals, in which Judges Stewart and Owen joined. Judge James Dennis, who is a Judge of 5th Circuit, but who did not sit on this panel, went to LSU law school.

12/3. The Progress & Freedom Foundation (PFF) filed an amicus curiae brief [20 pages in PDF] with the U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) in Comcast v. FCC., App. Ct. No. 08-1114, a challenge to the FCC's cable ownership cap.

Comcast filed its petition for review with the Court of Appeals on March 12, 2008. It seeks review of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) order [96 pages in PDF] that adopted limits on the number of U.S. subscribers that could be served by a cable company. This order is FCC 07-219 in MM Docket No. 92-264. The FCC adopted it on December 18, 2007, and released the text on February 11, 2008.

The PFF wrote in its brief that "Because no special characteristic of cable justifies the 1992 Cable Act’s unique limitations upon the size of a cable operator’s audience, the Court should apply strict scrutiny to these provisions. The Court should strike down these provisions as facially unconstitutional because there are ample less-restrictive means available to satisfy the government's interest in ensuring that cable operators do not unfairly impede the flow of video programming. Failing that, the Court should vacate the rule."

The PFF argued that the media market has changed since enactment of the 1992 Act. It states that there has been a proliferation of video programming services, a decrease in vertical integration between cable operators and programmers, an increase in the number of MVPDs, and a movement towards a "consumer-centric, digital cornucopia wherein content is decoupled from distribution platforms and is available on demand".

The PFF argues that the court should apply strict scrutiny, but that the cap also fails intermediate scrutiny.

12/3. President elect Obama announced that he will nominate Bill Richardson to be Secretary of Commerce. See, release. Richardson is a former Governor of the state of New Mexico and a former member of the House of Representatives. He was also Secretary of Energy and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration.

12/2. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) announced in a release that he will not seek re-election in 2010. See also, statement by President Bush.

12/3. Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, gave a speech in Beijing, People's Republic of China, regarding the U.S. -- China Strategic Economic Dialogue, or SED. He said that "During a period of trade tension, the SED has helped us manage difficult trade and investment issues. We have avoided harmful and counterproductive market-closing initiatives, and productive negotiations are underway on a new Bilateral Investment Treaty. Overall, we cooperate based on the common premise that countries benefit their citizens greatly when they open themselves to competition, reform their economies, and welcome foreign investment. Direct investment, such as manufacturing plants or service companies, is the ultimate vote of confidence in any economy." He added that "We have grappled with the most important and challenging issues, including the rule of law, transparency, innovation, rebalancing growth and intellectual property rights. Our discussions have been uniformly candid, meaningful, and respectful." See also, Paulson's speech of December 2, 2008.

12/2. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a notice in the Federal Register that sets deadlines to submit to oppositions and replies to the petition for reconsideration [PDF] filed on November 17, 2008, by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Association for Maximum Service Television in the FCC's proceeding titled "In the Matter of Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 76 of the Commission's Rules". The deadline to submit oppositions is December 16, 2008. The deadline to replies is December 26, 2008. See, Federal Register, December 2, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 232, at Page 73327. This pertains to the FCC's Fourth Report and Order [14 pages in PDF] announced and released on September 4, 2008. See also, story titled "FCC Provides Exemption for Small Cable Systems" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,821, September 4, 2008. This item is FCC 08-193 in CS Docket No. 98-120.

12/1. The Copyright Royalty Judges published a notice in the Federal Register that announces, describes, and sets the effective date (January 1, 2009) for, its cost of living adjustment of 3.7% in the royalty rates that colleges, universities, and other nonprofit educational institutions that are not affiliated with National Public Radio pay for the use of published nondramatic musical compositions in the ASCAP, BMI and SESAC repertories. See, Federal Register, December 1, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 231, at Pages 72726-72727.

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This issue contains the following items:
 • Bush Signs Child Safe Viewing Act
 • FCC Commissioner Tate Wants Schools and Universities to Fight Piracy
 • 5th Circuit Holds that Trademark Protects Universities' Color Schemes
 • PFF Files Amicus Brief in Challenge to Cable Ownership Cap

The House will not meet. It may meet the week of December 8.

The Senate will not meet.

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Day two of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). See, notice in the Federal Register, November 12, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 219, at Page 66844. Location: George Washington University, Cafritz Conference Center, 800 21st St., NW.

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (SMAC) will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 12, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 219, at Page 66845. This notice states that the SMAC "will consider a transition report and any remaining reports of its Technical Sharing Efficiencies and Operational Sharing Efficiencies subcommittees", and receive public comments. Location: Room 5855 (Secretary's Conference Room), 1401 Constitution Ave., NW.

12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) and the National Consumers League (NCL) will host an event titled "Empowering Individuals and the Economy Through Broadband". The speakers will be Karyne Jones (APT), Sally Greenburg (NCL), Nancy Reid, Kenneth Peres (Communications Workers of America and APT), and Joy Howell (APT). Location: Room 2203, Rayburn Building.

Day two of a three day event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce titled "One Voice for Trade; International Trade Leadership Program". The price to attend ranges from $175-$225. See, notice. Location: U.S. Chamber, 1650 H St., NW.

The House will not meet.

The Senate will meet in pro forma session.

8:00 AM - 5:15 PM. Day three of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). See, notice in the Federal Register, November 12, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 219, at Page 66844. Location: George Washington University, Cafritz Conference Center, 800 21st St., NW.

9:30 AM. The House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) will hold a hearing regarding government protection of U.S. auto companies. See, notice. Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.

9:30 AM - 4:45 PM. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold a hearing titled "The Evolving IP Marketplace". See, FTC notice and notice in the Federal Register, November 21, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 226, at Pages 70645-70648. See also, story titled "FTC to Hold Hearings on IP Law" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,853, November 5, 2008. Location: FTC, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

10:00 AM. The U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir) will hear oral argument in Tafas v. Dudas, App. Ct. No. 2008-1352, an appeal from the U.S. District Court (EDVa) in a case regarding the rulemaking authority of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The District Court wrote in its opinion that "Because the USPTO's rulemaking authority under 35 U.S.C. § 2(b)(2) does not extend to substantive rules, and because the Final Rules are substantive in nature, the Court finds that the Final Rules are void as ``otherwise not in accordance with law´´ and ``in excess of statutory jurisdiction [and] authority.´´ 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)." (Brackets in original. Hyperlinks added.) Location: Courtroom 203, 717 Madison Place, NW.

Day three of a three day event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce titled "One Voice for Trade; International Trade Leadership Program". The price to attend ranges from $175-$225. See, notice. Location: U.S. Chamber, 1650 H St., NW.

The House may meet. It may take of legislation to protect GM, Ford and Chrysler from competition and failure.

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (OUSTR) Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will meet. The meeting will be closed to the public from 9:00 AM through 12:30 PM. It will be open from 1:00 through 3:00 PM. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 20, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 225, at Page 70388. Location: Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Ave., NW.

11:00 AM. The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Pacific Bell Telephone v. Linkline Communications, Sup. Ct. No. 07-512. This is a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals (9thCir) in a case involving application of Section 2 of the Sherman Act to telecommunications. See, September 11, 2007, divided opinion [22 pages in PDF] of the Court of Appeals, and story titled "Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in Pacific Bell v. Linkline" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,786, June 25, 2008.

12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM. The Heritage Foundation will host a panel discussion titled "Under Attack: Today's Cyber Threat". The speakers will be Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar (Estonian Ministry of Defense), John Tkacik (Heritage), Frank Garcia (House Intelligence Committee staff), Steve Bucci (IBM), and Peter Brookes (Heritage). See, notice. Location: Heritage, 214 Massachusetts Ave., NE.

12:15 - 1:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Homeland Security and Emergency Communications Committee will host a brown bag lunch titled "Meet the FCC's Homeland Security & Public Safety Bureau". The speakers will be Derek Poarch (Chief of the FCC's Homeland Security & Public Safety Bureau) and others. Location: Holland & Knight, 2099 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

1:30 PM. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) will hold a partially closed meeting. The agenda for the open portion of the meeting includes "Communications, advanced computing and software" and "Nanotechnologies and microelectronics". See, notice in the Federal Register, November 26, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 229, at Page 72025. Location: DOC, Hoover Building, Room 3884, 14th St. between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves., NW.

Effective date of the Copyright Office's (CO) interim regulation to clarify the scope and application of the Section 115 compulsory license to make and distribute phonorecords of a musical work by means of digital phonorecord deliveries (DPDs). See, notice in the Federal Register, November 7, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 217, at Pages 66173-66182. See also, story titled "Copyright Office Releases Interim Section 115 Digital Phonorecord Delivery Regulation" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,854, November 10, 2008.

Deadline to submit comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in response to its request for comments regarding its collection of information in statutory invention registrations. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 7, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 195, at Pages 58572-58573.

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Day one of a two day partially closed meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science Board (NSB). At 1:00 - 2:30 PM the NSB will meet in closed session to discuss the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network and DataNet. See, notice in the Federal Register, December 2, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 232, at Pages 73349-73350. Location: NSF, Room 1235, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.

8:00 - 10:00 AM. The BroadbandCensus dot com [http colon slash slash broadbandcensus dot com] will host a breakfast event titled "How Applications and Broadband Mapping Harness Demand for High-Speed Internet" The speakers will be Susan Fox (Walt Disney), Neal Neuberger (Institute for e-Health Policy), Alan Shark (Public Technology Institute), and Geoff Daily (App-Rising.com). For more information, contact Drew Clark at drew at broadbandcensus dot com or 202-580-8196. Breakfast begins at 8:00 AM. The program begins at 8:40 AM. The price to attend these monthly events is $45. These events are open to the public. Location: Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th St., NW.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Inquiry (NOI) regarding requiring devices capable of receiving Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) to include digital audio broadcast (DAB), HD Radio, or other technologies capable of providing audio entertainment services. This is a part of the FCC's proceeding on the merger of XM and Sirius. See, story titled "FCC Approves XM Sirius Merger" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,800, July 25, 2008. The FCC adopted this NOI on August 22, 2008, and released the text [9 pages in PDF] on August 25, 2008. It is FCC 08-196 in MB Docket No. 08-172. See, notice in the Federal Register, September 10, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 176, at Pages 52657-52660.

Deadline for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) administrative law judge to resolve all factual disputes and submit a recommended decision and remedy with respect to six program carriage complaints. See, FCC Public Notice DA 08-2269, and notice in the Federal Register, November 3, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 213, at Pages 65312-65329. See also, story titled "FCC Releases Order On Program Carriage Complaints" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,844, October 17, 2008. This proceeding is MB Docket No. 08-214.

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Day two of a two day partially closed meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science Board (NSB). The agenda for the 8:00 - 10:30 AM open session includes "Update on the Next Generation of STEM Innovators Workshop". See, notice in the Federal Register, December 2, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 232, at Pages 73349-73350. Location: NSF, Room 1235, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.

1:30 PM. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (ETRAC) will hold a partially closed meeting. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 26, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 229, at Pages 72025-72026. Location: DOC, Hoover Building, Room 4830, 14th St. between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves., NW.

11:00 AM. The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in AT&T v. Hulteen, Sup. Ct. No. 07-543. This is a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals (9thCir) in a case involving Title VII, calculation of retirement benefits, and pregnancy leave. See, March 8, 2006, divided opinion [30 pages in PDF] of the Court of Appeals.

12:00 NOON. The Cato Institute will host an event titled "Just Give Us the Data! Prospects for Putting Government Information to Revolutionary New Uses". The speakers will be Ed Felten (Princeton University), Gary Bass (OMB Watch), Jerry Brito (Mercatus Center at George Mason University), and Jim Harper (Cato). See, notice. Lunch will follow the program. This event is free and open to the public. Cato will web cast this event. Location: Cato, 1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

2:45 - 3:30 PM. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a panel discussion titled "Regulation and Oversight: Advice for the New Administration". The speakers will be Cary Coglianese (University of Pennsylvania Law School), Susan Dudley (Office of Management and Budget), John Graham (Indiana University), Sally Katzen (George Mason University School of Law), Richard Morgenstern (Resources for the Future), and Robert Hahn (AEI). See, notice. Location: AEI, 12th floor, 1150 17th St., NW.

6:00 - 9:15 PM. The DC Bar Association (DCBA) will host part one of a two part event titled "2008 IP Law Year in Review Series". The speakers will be Terence Ross (Gibson Dunn & Crutcher), Becky Burr (Wilmer Hale), and Brian Banner (Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck). The price to attend ranges from $80 to $115. For more information, contact 202-626-3488. See, notice. The event qualifies for continuing legal education credits. The DCBA has a record of excluding persons from its events. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, B-1 Level, 1250 H St., NW.

Effective date of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) rules changes governing practice before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences in ex parte patent appeals. See, notice in the Federal Register, June 10, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 112, at Pages 32937-32977.

8:30 AM - 3:00 PM. The Department of Commerce's (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Overseers will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 28, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 230, at Page 72451. Location: NIST, Administration Building, Lecture Room B, Gaithersburg, MD.

9:00 - 10:30 AM. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) will host an event to release and discuss a report titled "A Policymaker's Guide to Network Management". The speakers will be Robert Atkinson (ITIF), David Sohn (Center for Democracy and Technology), and George Ou (ITIF). A light breakfast will be served. Location: ITIF, Suite 200, 1250 Eye St., NW.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The DC Bar Association (DCBA) will host part two of a two part event titled "2008 IP Law Year in Review Series". The speakers will be Bradley Wright (Banner & Witcoff) and Eric Wright (Morgan & Finnegan). The price to attend ranges from $80 to $115. For more information, contact 202-626-3488. See, notice. The DCBA has a record of excluding persons from its events. The event qualifies for continuing legal education credits. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, B-1 Level, 1250 H St., NW.

Deadline for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) to submit its annual report to the Congress on the People's Republic of China's compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This annual report is required by 22 U.S.C. § 6951.

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) regarding the operation, effectiveness, and implementation of and compliance with trade agreements regarding telecommunications products and services, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), free trade agreements (FTAs) with Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Morocco, and Singapore, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States FTAs. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 25, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 228, at Page 71707-71708.