ITU adopted ATSC 3.0 as an international recommended DTV standard, said Sinclair Thursday. The U.S. delegation starting in April pushed for that, the release said. The next step toward implementation involves updating “the ITU-sanctioned Digital Handbook” instructions for moving to 3.0, the broadcaster said. Sinclair Vice President-Spectrum Engineering and Policy Louis Libin chairs the ITU Rapporteur Group assigned to modify the Digital Handbook. “With initial U.S. deployments in place, we’re anticipating the first announcements of consumer receivers for the U.S. market in the coming days" at CES, said ATSC Board Chairman Lynn Claudy, NAB senior vice president-technology. "The decision by the ITU is yet another signal that digital terrestrial broadcasting has a bright future ahead,”

The China Ministry of Commerce doesn't like provisions in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that target Huawei and ZTE. The law bars the Trump administration from lifting the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security's addition of Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei to its export entity blacklist without congressional approval (see 19121700590). The law also requires reports to Congress on waivers issued to companies doing business with Huawei, and ZTE's compliance with a 2018 agreement that lifted Commerce's ban on U.S. companies selling telecom software and equipment to ZTE. “We have noticed that the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020 has been signed into law, which contains a number of unfavorable provisions for Chinese companies,” a ministry spokesperson said during a Thursday news conference, according to an unofficial translation. “China is firmly opposed to this,” he said. Specifically, “the Chinese side believes that the provisions of the act on restricting the purchase of Chinese products and tightening export control sanctions against Chinese enterprises are a bad example of state intervention in the normal business activities of enterprises, which is in stark contrast to the fairness, equality, and free trade promoted by the United States,” the spokesperson said. China plans to “pay close attention to the impact on the Chinese enterprises during the implementation of the 'Bill' and take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” he said. President Donald Trump signed the NDAA Dec. 20.

The Commerce Department extended until Jan. 10 the deadline for comments its proposed new procedures for reviewing transactions, including imports, that involve information and communications technology and services and are seen as a potential threat (see 1911260044), says Monday’s Federal Register. Industry groups requested the extension beyond the original due date of Dec. 27.

CTA hailed the House's "swift" 385-41 OK of legislation ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on free trade, saying the Senate "now needs to do its part." USMCA "will help American technology leadership and ensure business of all sizes thrive in a competitive global marketplace," said CTA President Gary Shapiro. USMCA's "modernized provisions will help ensure that North American trade policy reflects today’s global economy and will continue to benefit the U.S. economy," said David French, National Retail Federation senior vice president-government relations. "USMCA is a meaningful trade victory that will provide benefits for decades to come.”

The U.S. should restrict use of drones and funding for state-owned firms trying to undermine national security, Senate Republicans wrote the Transportation Department and FAA Wednesday. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee; Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, Florida; John Cornyn, Texas; and Tom Cotton, Arkansas, demanded immediate restrictions on the equipment, in response to Chinese threats. “American taxpayer dollars should not fund state-controlled or state-owned firms that seek to undermine American national security and economic competitiveness,” they wrote Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson. DOT didn’t comment.

The U.S. government didn’t violate the Fourth Amendment when it incidentally collected communications of a U.S. citizen through a foreign surveillance program, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday in U.S. v. Hasbajrami. Agron Hasbajrami was arrested at JFK airport in New York in 2011 and charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. The prosecution partly relied on information gathered without warrant under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702, which Hasbajrami sought to suppress under the Fourth Amendment. The case was remanded to the district court. The American Civil Liberties Union disagreed with the 2nd Circuit's ruling that “NSA can collect Americans’ international communications without a warrant, [but] the court rightly finds that the Fourth Amendment applies when the government searches for that sensitive information in intelligence databases,” said National Security Project staff attorney Patrick Toomey.

Liberty Global ended discussions on combining its cable subsidiary UPC Switzerland and Swiss telco Sunrise Communications after disagreements between Sunrise's board and its largest shareholder, Liberty said Monday. It said it's focusing now on UPC's turnaround plan.

Intel acquired Habana Labs, an Israel-based developer of programmable deep learning accelerators for data centers for about $2 billion, Intel said Monday (see personals section). It said the acquisition strengthens Intel's artificial intelligence portfolio and will help energize its efforts in AI silicon, a market it predicts will top $25 billion by 2024.

Tech hailed a “Phase One” U.S.-China trade deal averting 15 percent List 4B tariffs from taking effect Sunday and halving 15 percent List 4A duties in place since Sept. 1. Several expressed frustration 25 percent tariffs remain on the first three tranches worth $250 billion. There's anxiety a comprehensive Phase Two trade agreement may be months away. "We will begin negotiations on the Phase Two Deal immediately, rather than waiting until after the 2020 Election," tweeted President Donald Trump. "This is an amazing deal for all." Phase One is “an historic and enforceable agreement” that “requires structural reforms and other changes to China’s economic and trade regime in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer,” among others, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Formal “signing” of Phase One awaits “legal review, translations, authentication and other necessary procedures,” Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen told a Beijing news conference Friday. The U.S. and China held in-depth discussions on boosting IP safeguards, said ministry officials. Phase One addresses the protection of trade secrets and combating pirated and counterfeit goods over e-commerce platforms, they said. It also features measures for enhancing IP enforcement, they said. It's “welcome news,” said CTA CEO Gary Shapiro. It addresses “critical tech priorities,” such as IP protections and forced technology transfer, he said. Postponing the List 4B tariffs on smartphones, laptops and tablets “may temporarily protect American consumers from price increases,” he said. The Information Technology Industry Council is “pleased” Phase One “begins to roll back harmful tariffs, increases IP and tech transfer protections for American companies, further opens China’s financial market, and stabilizes this critical trade relationship,” said CEO Jason Oxman. “We encourage both countries to use this positive momentum to finalize a broader agreement.” It's "needed relief for the semiconductor industry by reducing uncertainty, easing some harmful tariffs, and not adding more,” said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. “We urge both sides to avoid further escalations that could undo this progress.” The U.S. and China should use Phase One as “a springboard to a more comprehensive deal that more effectively protects intellectual property,” he said. The Telecommunications Industry Association thinks Phase One is “a first step toward addressing systematic issues,” said CEO David Stehlin. "TIA hopes that faithful implementation of this Phase One agreement will build trust and encourage China to address the unfair trading practices that limit market access for global technology firms operating in China.”

There were 4 million 5G subscriber connections worldwide in Q3, a 166 percent sequential increase, 5G Americas said Thursday. The period, added 250 million LTE connections, 5G Americas said. The group counts 50 commercial 5G networks, which adhere to 3rd Generation Partnership Project standards, expected to rise to 67 by year's end. “Early adopters in 5G technology are testing the waters to see what their devices can do on the new technology,” said President Chris Pearson: “They’re taking advantage of new capabilities now being offered by several 5G networks that have come online over the past quarter. We expect to see a strong ramp up in 2020 as more devices become available and coverage expands.”