The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel via webinar to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Advisory Panel will receive an update on the implementation timeline for Framework Adjustment 34 and Amendment 21, review 2022 scallop workload based on priorities approved by the Council, and discuss potential timelines for completing each task. The panel will also review a draft scoping document to assess: (1) the need for a leasing program, and (2) what the leasing program should consider. Other business will be discussed if necessary. The meeting will be recorded, and a copy of the recording is available upon request.
The Council is also reminded importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this period. Failure to comply could result in Commerce’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties has occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.
The Council is implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which includes a historic investment of $65 billion to help close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, affordable, high-speed broadband. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) sets forth a $65 billion investment into broadband, more than $48 billion of which will be administered by NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. NTIA has established multiple avenues for the public to offer input to inform program design and implementation, including a series of public virtual listening sessions and a request for comment.
NTIA seeks public comment on several critical issues, including: ensuring the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s broadband programs meet their goals with respect to access, adoption, affordability, digital equity, and digital inclusion; ensuring that broadband funding is deployed in a way that maximizes the creation of good paying jobs and that women and people of color have full opportunity to secure those jobs; ensuring that networks built using taxpayer funds are capable of meeting Americans’ evolving digital needs; and ensuring that networks constructed using taxpayer funds are designed to provide robust and sustainable service at affordable prices over the long term.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a $42.45 billion program for states, territories, the District of Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico (BEAD) to support planning efforts, submit initial broadband plans, and access funds for broadband deployment. States and territories will be able to access additional funds from their BEAD allocation upon review and approval of their initial and final plans. The law also provides NTIA with discretion to establish additional eligible uses for the funding.
The Digital Equity Act dedicated $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital inclusion and equity to ensure that all individuals and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The goal of these programs is to promote the meaningful adoption and use of broadband services across targeted populations, including low-income households, aging populations, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals with a language barrier, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural inhabitants.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also includes a $1 billion program for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle-mile infrastructure (MMBI) to expand and extend middle-mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas to the internet backbone. Eligible applicants include states, political subdivisions of a State, tribal governments, technology companies, electric utilities, utility cooperatives, public utility districts, telecommunications companies, telecommunications cooperatives, nonprofit foundations, nonprofit corporations, nonprofit institutions, nonprofit associations, regional planning councils, Native entities, or economic development authorities.
