According to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register, a “Made in the USA” claim can only be used in cases where “the final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the United States, all significant processing of the product occurs in the United States, and all or virtually all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the United States.” The requirement applies to comparable claims for products using words including “manufactured,” “built,” “produced,” “created” or “crafted.”
Producers who promote or offer for sale products as “Made in the USA” that do not meet all of these conditions can be found to have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices under FTC regulations, and therefore subject to civil penalties.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the FCC, along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will work together to develop and implement a joint Rural Telehealth Initiative intended to “address health disparity issues, resolve service provider challenges and promote broadband services and technology in rural areas of America.”
Under the terms of the MOU, the agencies have agreed to establish an interagency Rural Telehealth Initiative Task Force comprised of representatives from each agency and charged with developing a formal plan for the Initiative, consistent with the respective missions and authority of each partner agency. The Task Force will serve as a forum for the exchange of agency expertise, as well as relevant scientific and technical information, data and publications.
According to a posting on the website of the ARRL, the NPRM is intended to implement portions of the “Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Service Act” of 2018, otherwise known as “Ray Baum’s Act.” The ARRL notes that the Act requires the FCC to switch from a Congressionally-mandated fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. Under the Act, amateur radio services have been exempt from regulatory fees but not from application fees.
In addition to the $50 application fee, the NPRM would require amateur radio operators to pay an additional $50 fee for a printed copy of their amateur license.
The Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has affirmed that the 5030-5091 MHz spectrum band is suitable for drone operations. The report recommends that the Commission begin a rulemaking process to establish service and licensing rules applicable to UAS use of the band.
The Bureau’s report further notes that alternative frequencies licensed under the Commission’s flexible-use service rules may also be an option for UAS communications. However, due to the potential of UAS to cause harmful interference to other operations, the report cautions that that option would require further FCC review.