11/10. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a redacted copy [72 pages in PDF] of its report titled "Sentinel Audit V: Status of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Case Management System".

This report is a fifth in a series on Lockheed Martin's (LM) $450 Million contract to develop for the FBI an information and case management system that integrates commercial off the shelf components. It is planned to provide records management, workflow management, evidence management, search and reporting capabilities, and information sharing with other law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community.

The FBI, which is a component of the DOJ, stated in a release that it "has begun user testing of Sentinel's Administrative Case Management system, including three electronic forms and automated workflows. Following a brief pilot in the FBI’s Richmond, Tampa, and Chicago offices, the FBI will deliver these capabilities across the FBI".

This OIG report further documents the FBI's and LM's difficulties in adopting information technologies.

This latest report states that "the overall project completion date has been extended to September 2010, 3 months later than we previously reported and 9 months later than originally planned."

The report states that users complain that "Sentinel responds too slowly". The report finds that this is due in part to the FBI's "outdated network architecture".

The report also details problems with various phases and segments of the program. For example, it states that LM and the Sentinel Project Management Office (PMO) "encountered problems developing Sentinel's electronic forms and their supporting automated workflows".

Also, it states that "the successful development of Sentinel is dependent on successful development and deployment of another FBI IT system called the Enterprise Directory Services (EDS)", which "did not perform as intended and did not deliver the planned security requirements".

11/13. Thomas Perez took the oath of office as Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in charge of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division (CRD).

There was a grand ceremony in the Great Hall of the main DOJ building in Washington DC. Attorney General Eric Holder, Deputy Attorney General David Ogden, Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, and Perez all gave speeches.

However, none of them disclosed their positions on application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to web sites, electronic commerce, social networking sites, software, or electronic devices.

Nor did any discuss the application of Section 230 interactive computer service immunity to lawsuits that allege violation of civil rights statutes by operators of interactive web sites as a result of postings by their users. See, 47 U.S.C. § 230.

Perez (at right) said this: "Too many individuals with disabilities still struggle to access the basic services the rest of us take for granted. ... We need a Civil Rights Divisions to bring these people out of the shadows."

Perhaps it is significant that the ADA applies only to "any place of public accommodation", and not to any "basic services", as Perez stated.

42 U.S.C. § 12182 provides that "No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation ..."

The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) held a hearing on Perez's nomination on April 29, 2009. See, Perez's SJC questionnaire responses, Senators' written questions with responses, and webcast of hearing.

The topics addressed at the hearing and in these records include voting rights, the federal census, immigration, racial preferences, disparate sentencing involving crack cocaine, human trafficking, health care discrimination, health care as a civil right, religious freedom, foreclosure prevention, hate crime laws, and politically based hiring and substantive decision making by the CRD.

There was no discussion of technology related issues. Perez's hearing was combined with those of Andre Davis (to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit), and David Hamilton (to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit). Much attention was devoted to these two controversial judicial nominees.

DOJ officials have said little in public, or to TLJ, about technology related civil rights issues since the 1996 Presidential election campaign. Deval Patrick (then the AAG in charge of the DOJ's CRD) sent a letter on September 9, 1996, to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) asserting that the ADA applies to the internet.

At that time, former President Clinton was running for re-election against a physically disabled man, former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS). Patrick is a partisan politician who is now the Democratic Governor of the state of Massachusetts. The letter may have been a politically motivated tactic to win votes of disabled voters. The DOJ has since done little to enforce the legal conclusion expressed in Patrick's letter.

For more on the ADA and information technology, see:

• story titled "Do Web Sites Violate the Americans with Disabilities Act?", Tech Law Journal, February 10, 2000.
• story titled "District Court Holds ADA Does Not Apply to Web Site" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 538, October 30, 2002.
• story titled "DOJ Applies ADA to Practice of Law" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,622, August 14, 2007.
• story titled "DOJ Applies ADA Public Accommodations Status to Online Educational Service" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,649, October 2, 2007.
• story titled "Commentary: Extending ADA Public Accommodations Treatment to Online Activities" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,649, October 2, 2007.
• story titled "District Court Issues Ruling in Case Involving Claim That Web Site Violates the ADA" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,657, October 18, 2007.
• story titled "9th Circuit Rules on Standing and Discovery in ADA Cases" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,678, November 20, 2007.
• story titled "9th Circuit Rules in ADA Cases" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1816, August 20, 2008.

For more on Section 230 and civil rights claims, see:

• story titled "DOJ Settles Case Against Interactive Computer Service" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 808, December 31, 2003.
• story titled "4th Circuit Affirms That Section 230 Immunity Extends to Federal Civil Rights Action" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 863, March 25, 2004.
• story titled "9th Circuit Holds Roommates.com May be Liable for Speech of Users" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,581, May 15, 2007.
• story titled "7th Circuit Applies Section 230 Immunity in Craigslist Case" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,731, March 17, 2008.
• story titled "En Banc 9th Circuit Panel Rejects Section 230 Immunity in Roommates.com Case" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,741, April 2, 2008.

11/17. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [4 pages in PDF] that requests comments on how "broadband can help to bring democratic processes -- including elections, public hearings and town hall meetings -- into the digital age, thereby encouraging and facilitating citizen opportunities to engage and participate in their democracy".

The comment deadline is December 10, 2009. This item is DA 09-2431 in GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137. This document states that the purpose is to assist the FCC in drafting a document titled "National Broadband Plan".

This Public Notice asks numerous questions about online voter registration and online voting. The Congressional statute that instructs the FCC to write a national broadband plan does not reference either voter registration or online voting.

Section 6001(k) of Section HR 1 [LOC | WW], the huge spending bill enacted in February, requires the FCC to also draft a plan that "shall seek to ensure that all people of the United States have access to broadband capability", and "a plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in ... civic participation".

Broadband internet access is not necessary for either online voter registration or online voting. Dial up access suffices.

Moreover, it is the states that administer elections, including elections for federal office. Also, the law of elections is largely a state matter, beyond the reach of the FCC. The Constitution provides that "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations". The Constitution gives the Congress no authority to enact legislation regarding elections for state or local office.

The Congress has already created a Federal Election Commission (FEC), with authority to regulate certain federal election practices.

This Public Notice also asks numerous questions about the use of new technologies for "government meetings", "online public hearings", and "online town halls". This would be furthered by universal broadband access.

Perhaps it should be noted that the FCC Commissioners only very rarely conduct evidentiary hearings or public deliberative sessions in either rulemakings or adjudications. The FCC's events titled "Open Meeting" are ceremonies at which the Commissioners read written statements and conduct a vote. All of the substantive work has taken place, in non-public settings, prior to this ceremony. Hence, there is almost nothing for the FCC to put online.

Also, FCC officials often organize and participate in meetings in Washington DC with representatives of organized interests, such as events assigned the rubric of Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) meeting. FCC officials often address, and receive oral comments on, open rulemakings and adjudications. These meetings typically are not teleconferenced, web cast, audio recorded, video recorded, or transcribed. And, reporters, such as TLJ, are frequently barred from attending. Hence, there is nothing for the FCC or others to put online.

Moreover, FCC Commissioners and other employees receive information and arguments in closed ex parte meetings in many proceedings. While ordinary citizens of minimal means often record their most mundane experiences for prompt posting to You Tube or other web sites, the FCC considers it unthinkable to post audio recordings of these closed meetings.

And finally, this Public Notice adds that parties may utilize this secretive ex parte communications process to influence the FCC regarding the matters in this Public Notice.

In sum, the FCC is now asking for comments to assist it in planning how other government entities promote democratic processes with information technologies, while the FCC itself eschews these technologies in its own proceedings.

11/13. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [9 pages in PDF] that requests comments regarding its universal service and intercarrier compensation rules and policies. This document states that the purpose is to assist the FCC in drafting a document titled "National Broadband Plan", or "NBP".

This Public Notice asks questions regarding the size of each of the FCC's universal service tax and subsidy programs, how the FCC imposes these taxes, and expanding high cost universal service subsidies to include broadband.

It also asks how reductions universal service high cost support and/or intercarrier compensation would affect broadband deployment, and how carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations for voice service imposed on some but not all carriers impacts broadband deployment.

It also asks about expanding low income universal service support to cover broadband.

The comment deadline is December 7, 2009. This item is DA 09-2419 in GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137.

11/12. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [8 pages in PDF] that requests comments regarding broadband infrastructure and services in health care delivery, and universal service support for rural health care providers. This document states that the purpose of this Public Notice is to assist the FCC in drafting a document titled "National Broadband Plan", or "NBP".

This Public Notice asks questions regarding the current state of internet connectivity at hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, physicians' offices, long term care providers, home, emergency medical responders, and health providers on tribal lands.

It also asks about the types of IT infrastructure necessary to support various health IT applications, such as remote patient monitoring, real time video, and electronic health records.

It also asks "What are the primary drivers and barriers to taking advantage of available internet connectivity across delivery settings?" and "What in the healthcare sector may be a disincentive to invest in broadband services (particularly for telemedicine)?" (Parentheses in original.)

It also asks about health data security.

Finally, this notice asks about universal service support for rural health care providers. For example, "What role should federal universal service support have in the funding of broadband health care networks?" And, should the program be expanded to cover all health care providers?

The comment deadline is December 4, 2009. This item is DA 09-2413 in GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137.

11/12. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [6 pages in PDF] that requests comments regarding broadband access and economic opportunity. This document states that its purpose is to assist the FCC in drafting a document titled "National Broadband Plan", or "NBP".

For example, it asks questions such as "what level of connectivity is required for businesses of varying sizes", and how "broadband might help localities and regions attract new businesses and build up economic bases"?

It also asks about "critical government provided social benefits" and "Federally-supported job training and placement programs".

The comment deadline is December 4, 2009. This item is DA 09-2414 in GN Docket Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137.

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Notices & Disclaimers
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The House will meet at 10:30 AM for morning hour, and at 12:00 NOON for legislative business. See, Rep. Hoyer's schedule for week of November 16.

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a two day meeting of the Executive Office of the President's (EOP) Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO). See, notice in the Federal Register, October 30, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 209, at Pages 56245-56246. Location: Holiday Inn Rosslyn Key Bridge, 1900 N. Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA.

9:30 AM. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet will hold a hearing titled "Universal Service Reform Act of 2009". See, notice. Location: Room 2123 Rayburn Building.

9:30 AM - 4:30 PM. The Heritage Foundation will host a one day conference titled "Measuring Innovation and Change During Turbulent Economic Times". This event will address how innovation can become a standard component of U.S. national accounting system, and how incorporating innovation metrics will aid the development of a unified picture of the sources of growth and economic disruption. See, notice. Location: Heritage, 214 Massachusetts Ave., NE.

10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee's (SJC) Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security will hold a hearing titled "Cybersecurity: Preventing Terrorist Attacks and Protecting Privacy in Cyberspace". The witnesses will be James Baker (Associate Deputy Attorney General), Steven Chabinsky (Assistant Director of the DHS's National Cyber Security Center), Richard Schaeffer (Director of the NSA's Information Assurance Directorate), Steven Chabinsky (Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division), Gregory Nojeim (Center for Democracy and Technology), Larry Clinton (Internet Security Alliance), and Larry Wortzel (Vice Chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission). The SJC will webcast this hearing. See, notice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The House Ways and Means Committee's (HWMC) Subcommittee on Trade will hold a hearing titled "Operation, Impact, and Future of the U.S. Preference Programs". See, notice. Location: Room 1100, Longworth Building.

10:00 - 11:30 AM. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) will host a panel discussion titled "Explaining International Mobile Payments Leadership". The speakers will be Rob Atkinson (ITIF), Stephen Ezell (ITIF), Pragnesh Shah (Network Solutions), David Jeppsen (NTT DOCOMO USA), and Mark McCarthy. See, notice. Location: ITIF, 1101 K St., NW.

12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. The Copyright Alliance will host a panel discussion titled "Expanding the Consumer Experience: The New Generation of Entertainment". The speakers will include Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee (HJC). See, notice. RSVP to Gayle Osterberg at gayle at 133publicaffairs dot com. Location: Room 2226, Rayburn Building.

2:30 PM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will hold a hearing titled "Aggressive Sales Tactics on the Internet and Their Impact on American Consumers". See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

5:00 - 7:00 PM. The Copyright Alliance will host an event titled "EXPOnential" and "Live from Main Street: Copyright and the Local Economy". The speakers will include Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee (HJC). See, notice. RSVP to Gayle Osterberg at gayle at 133publicaffairs dot com. Location: Cannon Caucus Room, Cannon Building.

5:00 PM. Deadline to submit petitions to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) for competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers and Section 503(c)(1)(E) determinations regarding products not produced in the U.S. on January 1, 1995. See, notice in the Federal Register, May 28, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 101, Page 25605-25607.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host an event titled "Export Controls and Economic Sanctions 2009: Recent Developments and Current Issues". The speakers will be Carol Kalinoski and Thomas Scott. The price to attend ranges from $89 to $129. Most DC Bar events are not open to the public. This event qualifies for continuing legal education (CLE) credits. See, notice. For more information, call 202-626-3488. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, 1101 K St., NW.

Deadline to submit to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) petitions requesting either Competitive Need Limitation (CNL) waivers, or determinations regarding eligible products not produced in the United States on January 1, 1995. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 3, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 211, at Pages 56908-56909.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. The House will consider of HR 3014 [LOC | WW], the "Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act". See, Rep. Hoyer's schedule for week of November 16.

8:30 AM - 1:00 PM. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host an event titled "Roundtable on Work Sharing for Patent Applications". See, notice in the Federal Register, October 21, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 202, at Pages 54028-54029. Location: USPTO, Madison Auditorium, Concourse Level, Madison Building, 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA.

8:30 AM - 3:00 PM. Day two of a two day meeting of the Executive Office of the President's (EOP) Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO). See, notice in the Federal Register, October 30, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 209, at Pages 56245-56246. Location: Holiday Inn Rosslyn Key Bridge, 1900 N. Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA.

TIME AND LOCATION CHANGE. 9:30 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) will hold a hearing titled "Oversight of the Department of Justice". The witness will be Attorney General Eric Holder. The SJC will webcast this event. See, notice. Location: Room G-50, Dirksen Building.

10:00 AM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may host an event titled "open meeting". The agenda includes two items: (1) a staff presentation on the drafting of a document titled "National Broadband Plan", and (2) adoption of a declaratory ruling regarding timeframes for state and local governmental authorities to consider wireless facilities siting applications. For more information, contact Jen Howard at 202-418-0506 or jen dot howard at fcc dot gov. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW.

1:00 - 5:45 PM. Day one of a two day meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Business and Operations Advisory Committee. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 26, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 205, at Page 55069. Location: NSF, Room 375, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA.

12:15 - 2:00 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) International Telecommunications Committee will host a brown bag lunch titled "Discussion of Network Management Practices of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Providers in Europe and Asia, along with regulations, if any, governing those practices". The speaker Michael Kende (Analysys Mason). Register by November 13 with Jennifer Ullman at Jennifer dot ullman at verizon dot com. Location: Wiley Rein, 1750 K St., NW.

TIME CHANGE. 2:30 PM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) will hold a hearing on the nominations of Denny Chin (to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit), Rosanna Peterson (USDC/EDWash), William Conley (USDC/WDWisc), and others. See, notice. The SJC will webcast this hearing. For more information, call 202-224-7703. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

2:00 - 3:30 PM. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division's Economic Analysis Group will host a presentation by Louis Kaplow (Harvard law school) titled "Why Ever Define Markets?" To request permission to attend, contact Patrick Greenlee at 202-307-3745 or atr dot eag at usdoj dot gov. Location: DOJ, Liberty Square Building, 450 5th St., NW.

2:30 PM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will hold a hearing on nominations, including that of Philip Coyle to be the Associate Director at the Executive Office of the President's (EOP) Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

TIME? The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (SHSGAC) will hold a business meeting to consider the nominations of Daniel Gordon to be Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, and Erroll Southers to be the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The meeting will be held in conjunction with the first vote on the Senate floor. See, notice [PDF]. Location: Room 216, Capitol Buiilding.

Deadline to submits comments regarding all issues except sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measure or standards related matters to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) to assist it in preparing its annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE). See, notice in the Federal Register, September 24, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 184, at Pages 48811-48813.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. The House may vote on the conference report on HR 2847 [LOC | WW], the "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010". See, Rep. Hoyer's schedule for week of November 16.

8:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. Day two of a two day meeting of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Business and Operations Advisory Committee. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 26, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 205, at Page 55069. Location: NSF, Room 375, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA.

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a two day event hosted by the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Economics and Northwestern University titled "FTC Microeconomics Conference". Several technology related papers will be presented. See, conference web site and agenda. Location: FTC Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

9:30 AM - 1:00 PM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) National Broadband Taskforce (NBT) will host a workshop titled "Future Fiber Architectures and Local Deployment Choices". The speakers will be David Isenberg (FCC NBT), Stagg Newman (FCC NBTaskforce Chief Technologist), Tom Koutsky (FCC NBT), Jon Peha (FCC Chief Technologist), Walter Johnston (Chief of theFCC's OET's Electromagnetic Compatibility Division), John Cioffi (Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Inc.), David Reed (Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.), David Reed (MIT Media Lab), Dave Russell (Calix Networks, Inc.), Johan Henæs (INS Communications), John Jay (Corning), Dick Lynch (Verizon Communications), Joanne Hovis (National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors), Tim Nulty (East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network), Herman Wagter (Citynet Amsterdam), and Benoit Felten (Yankee Group Research, Inc.). See, notice. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW.

10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will meet in executive session to consider five bills, including S 592 [LOC | WW], the "Local Community Radio Act of 2009", and S 2764 [LOC | WW], the "Satellite TV Extension and Localism Act". Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

10:00 AM. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet and Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection will hold a joint hearing titled "Exploring the Offline and Online Collection and Use of Consumer Information". See, notice. Location: Room 2123 Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) will hold an executive business meeting. The agenda again includes consideration of HR 985 [LOC | WW] and S 448 [LOC | WW], both titled the "Free Flow of Information Act of 2009", and S 1147 [LOC | WW], the "Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009", a bill that would regulate internet sales of cigarettes. The agenda also includes consideration of the nomination of Jane Stranch to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. See, notice. The SJC rarely follows is published agendas. The SJC will webcast this meeting. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM. The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will hold a partially closed meeting by teleconference. The agenda includes a report from the Cybersecurity Collaboration Task Force. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 21, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 202, at Pages 54061-54062.

2:00 PM. The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) will host a speaking event, awards ceremony, and reception, regarding broadband policy. The speakers will be Rick Cimerman (NCTA), Debbie Goldman (CWA), Link Hoewing (Verizon), Karyne Jones (National Caucus and Center on Black Aged), Jonathan Linkous (American Telemedicine Association), Sheri Steinig (Generations United), Donald Mathis (Community Action Partnership), Jim Mueller (Wireless RERC at Georgia Tech), and Kenneth Peres (APT). For more information, contact apt at apt dot org or call 202-263-2970. Location: National Education Association, 1201 16th St., NW.

The House may meet at 9:00 AM for legislative business. See, Rep. Hoyer's schedule for week of November 16.

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host an event titled "Staff Workshop on Addressing Distracted Driving". See, notice. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Day two of a two day event hosted by the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Economics and Northwestern University titled "FTC Microeconomics Conference". Several technology related papers will be presented. See, conference web site and agenda. Location: FTC Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

Deadline to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Media Bureau (MB) regarding the structuring of the 2010 quadrennial review process. This review will examine the FCC's newspaper broadcast cross ownership rule, radio television cross ownership rule, local television ownership rule, local radio ownership rule, and dual network rule. See, FCC notice [PDF]. It is DA 09-2209 in MB Docket No. 09-182.

The House will not meet the week of November 23-27. See, Rep. Hoyer's release.

8:30 AM - 1:30 PM. The National Science Foundation's (NSF) President's Committee on the National Medal of Science will hold a closed meeting. See, notice in the Federal Register: October 19, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 200, at Pages 53521-53522. Location: Hilton Arlington Hotel, 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA.

10:00 AM. Deadline for foreign governments to submit comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) in response to its request for comments regarding its Special 301 out of cycle reviews of Fiji, Israel, Philippines, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, and regarding identification of countries under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 5, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 191, at Pages 51215-51216.

The House will not meet the week of November 23-27. See, Rep. Hoyer's release.

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) Nomination Evaluation Committee will hold a closed meeting. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 6, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 214, at Pages 57450-57451. Location: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA.

2:00 - 4:00 PM. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will hold a meeting to prepare for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference, which will be held in May 2010 in Hyderabad, India. See, notice in the Federal Register, October 28, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 207, at Pages 55618-55619. Location: 10th floor, 1120 20th St., NW.

2:30 - 4:00 PM. The American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of Antitrust Law will host a seminar by teleconference titled "Damages in Lanham Act False Advertising Cases: Theory and Practice". The speakers will be Christopher Cole (Manatt Phelps), Ravi Dhar (Yale University School of Management), and Christopher Borek (Analysis Group). See, notice [PDF].

Deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the effect of line loss on universal service Local Switching Support (LSS) received by incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) that are designated as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs). This  NPRM [13 pages in PDF] is FCC 09-89 in WC Docket No. 05-337. See, notice in the Federal Register, November 10, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 216, at Page 57982-57986. See also, story titled "FCC Releases Order and NPRM on Local Switching Support" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 2,001, October 12, 2009.