The FCC released its “Small Entity Compliance Guide” on assessment and collection of regulatory fees for FY 2013. The guide lists where and when regulatory fees must be paid, and how much is owed (http://fcc.us/17O6Qxt).

Boeing completed the functional qualification testing phase for the protected wideband satellite communications system. Its Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) “will be used in the command and control of U.S. nuclear forces,” Boeing said in a news release (http://bit.ly/192AtZ1). FAB-T command post terminals will be installed in fixed and mobile ground installations “as well as aboard E-4B airborne operations center and E-6 airborne command post aircraft,” it said. “Flight tests for the advanced wideband terminals are expected to conclude this fall.” The testing is part of the U.S. Air Force FAB-T development contract, Boeing said.

Trans-Pacific Partnership trade officials concluded negotiations in Salt Lake City Sunday, making “significant progress” in areas such as intellectual property protection, market access, state-owned enterprises, government procurement and technical barriers to trade, said the office of the U.S. Trade Representative in a news release Sunday (http://1.usa.gov/1aTJabe). The talks, which began Nov. 19, paved the way for additional progress at the upcoming TPP ministerial summit in Singapore, said USTR. U.S. trade officials, including USTR chief Michael Froman, have eyed the end of 2013 for conclusion of TPP negotiations. On speculation that Dec. 7-10 will be the dates for the ministerial summit, the USTR didn’t comment.

Woodcock Washburn will merge with Baker & Hostetler, the firms said in a statement Friday. The merger will double Baker & Hostetler’s current intellectual property practice to 140 lawyers and help it “provide clients with significant IP breadth and depth,” the announcement said.

FCC rules on the operation of wireless communications services in the 2.3 GHz band took effect Monday. The final rules were approved in an order on reconsideration in docket 07-293, which revised technical rules to enhance the ability of wireless communications services licensees to deploy mobile broadband networks “while establishing additional safeguards to protect neighboring Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry and Defense Switch Network networks from harmful interference,” the agency said in a Federal Register notice (http://1.usa.gov/1euylhf).

The FTC said Friday that it is extending the comment deadline on its proposed study of the business practices of patent assertion entities (PAEs) to Dec. 16 to give interested parties more time to provide input. The original deadline was Dec. 2. The FTC voted in September to propose launching the PAE study using its authority under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act. Section 6(b) allows the FTC to investigate an industry’s business practices, including issuing subpoenas, and report their findings to Congress and the public. The FTC has proposed asking for information from 25 PAEs on their corporate legal structure, the types of patents they hold and how they assert their patents (CD Sept 30 p15).

Longmont Power & Communications released a request for proposals Thursday to find a firm to design and oversee the construction of its fiber-to-the-premises network following the Colorado passage of city’s ballot initiative (CD Nov 7 p5 ). The consultant selected will be required to complete equipment engineering for five optical line terminals located in city-owned facilities, said the RFP. The consultant’s outside plant design will include construction standards for overhead and underground facilities and equipment and material specifications, said the RFP. It will also include the capacity to serve undeveloped areas within the city planning area as well as LPC’s rural service territory, said the RFP. The contract for design and construction management of the FTTP network is estimated to last from Feb. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2016, said the RFP. Proposals are due to the Longmont by Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.

The FCC incentive auction and subsequent TV station repacking don’t threaten rural TV viewers or the translators that deliver their signals, said the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition in an informal comment (http://bit.ly/1g33rNp) filed Thursday. It responded to a letter signed by 23 senators concerned that the repacking will eliminate TV translator service (CD Nov 14 p21), since translators aren’t protected in the incentive auction process. Concerns that the FCC will reclaim more spectrum than it needs in rural areas or that the repacking won’t leave room for translators are contrary to the auction design and to “commitments made by Commission staff,” said EOBC. The FCC has said that while less spectrum may be cleared in “constrained markets,” it won’t compensate by clearing more in rural areas, said EOBC. “There is no rational basis to conclude that the FCC will recover more spectrum than it needs in rural areas.” An examination of markets with heavy translator use “reveals that there would be ample spectrum post-repack on which TV translators could continue to operate,” said EOBC.

Affiniti has acquired the assets of Trillion Partners, said Global Leveraged Capital, the investment firm that Affiniti owns, in a news release Friday (http://bit.ly/17Hgcxm). Affiniti operates broadband networks in 21 states, including its network management agreement with EAGLE-Net in Colorado, and it provides managed services in the education, healthcare, government and wholesale markets, said GLC. Affiniti also entered into an agreement with the North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA) to become a sub-recipient of its NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant to build out, manage and operate its broadband network, said GLC. Through one of its affiliates, GLC provided additional capital to Affiniti to support the company’s “expanding operations” and finance the transactions with EAGLE-Net and NFBA, said GLC. The acquisition of Trillion’s assets closed Oct. 18. GLC has been a lender to Trillion since 2008, and it has supported Trillion through its operational and financial restructuring, said GLC. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., submitted a letter to NTIA on Oct. 29 questioning EAGLE-Net’s choice of Affiniti as its operator (CD Nov. 1 p8). EAGLE-Net selected Affiniti as its network operator due to Affiniti’s focus on serving schools, hospitals and government organizations in rural communities; Affiniti’s approach of forming a public-private partnership structure with EAGLE-Net; and the strong financial commitment from GLC, said EAGLE-Net and Affiniti in a description of the partnership released last week (http://bit.ly/1aMRb1w). Both EAGLE-Net and Affiniti will continue to work with all service providers that wish to leverage EAGLE-Net to provide last-mile broadband services in markets served by EAGLE-Net’s middle-mile network, said the description.

NAB doesn’t want Congress changing advertising tax deductibility law. The association of broadcasters issued a statement Thursday night to that effect, citing proposals in the House and Senate that would change law allowing businesses to deduct advertising costs. “NAB and the thousands of local radio and television stations in our membership strongly oppose limits that would be placed on the ability of businesses to annually deduct costs for advertising,” NAB’s spokesman said in a statement. “We're optimistic that Congress will fully retain the ad tax deduction, which is an engine for economic growth and job creation in businesses and communities across America.” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., released his latest draft paper on overhauling what he called the “bloated” tax code Thursday (http://1.usa.gov/1aVyTru). “There shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to 50 percent of the advertising expenditures paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year,” the 144-page draft said (http://1.usa.gov/1h7yKd4). It noted that other advertising expenses not captured in that 50 percent “shall be allowed as an amortization deduction ratably over a 5-year period beginning with the taxable year in which such expenditures are paid or incurred.” Current law allows the entire costs to be deducted. Baucus is seeking comments, due Jan. 17. The National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations sent a letter (http://bit.ly/1aCKEHN) earlier this month warning the House Ways and Means Committee against any changes to the deductibility provisions.