Top News
Commerce’s NTIA Hosts Expo on Digital Television Transition
Washington (Sept. 25)—Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration expo showcased consumer education efforts to inform the public about the digital television transition and the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. Consumers may use converter boxes to continue using analog televisions for free, over-the-air broadcasts after February 17, 2009, when stations convert to all-digital signals. All U.S. households may request up to two, $40 coupons to be used toward the purchase of up to two converter boxes, starting January 1, 2008. (More)
Gutierrez and Congressman Towns Visit Opportunity Development Association in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sept. 24)—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez and Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY) visited the Opportunity Development Association (ODA) in Brooklyn, a resource for minority businesses that is funded by the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Association. Gutierrez discussed the U.S. economy and the importance of exports to continued growth. He highlighted the need for Congress to pass pending Free Trade Agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and Korea. Pictured from left to right are Gutierrez, Rabbi Louis Kestenbaum, Towns and Yehuda Turner, ODA Project Coordinator. (More)
Deputy Assistant Secretary Estrada Addresses Importance of Free Trade Agreements on Capitol Hill
Washington (Sept. 24)—International Trade Administration Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing Jamie Estrada participated in the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) Forum on Capitol Hill to address the importance of pending free trade agreements (FTA’s) with Peru, Colombia, Panama and Korea. FTA’s have proved to be one of the best ways to open up foreign markets to U.S. exporters. Today, the United States has FTAs with 14 countries. In 2006, six new FTA’s were implemented with Bahrain, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Morocco, and Nicaragua. (More)
Gutierrez Swears in New Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services
Washington (Sept. 21)—At a ceremony at the Department of Commerce, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez swore in William G. Sutton CAE, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, (Ret.) as the Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services. He was appointed by President Bush in May of this year and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in August. He is pictured with his wife, Claudia, and the Secretary. (More)
Photo by Nate Nevala
Sutton and Congressman Murphy Tour Pennsylvania Company and Participate in Business Roundtable
Oakdale, Pa. (Sept. 21)—Assistant Secretary William G. Sutton (right) looks on as Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18) (left) listens to Justin McElhattan, (center) President, Industrial Scientific, as he gives a tour of his company. Sutton was in Pennsylvania for a business roundtable hosted by Industrial Scientific. Sutton is the new Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, a unit of the International Trade Administration which is part of the Commerce Department. (More)
BEA Releases Most Detailed Look at Economy’s Structure
Washington (Sept. 21)—The Bureau of Economic Analysis released estimates of the Benchmark Input-Output Accounts of the U.S. economy. These accounts, which are based on the once every five year Economic Census, provide the most detailed information available on the structure of the U.S. economy, covering over 400 industries. They are used by BEA to benchmark Gross Domestic Product, by other statistical agencies to benchmark price indexes, and by analysts and policy makers to examine changes in the economy, such as the impact of increases in energy prices. (More)
Gutierrez Promotes Free Trade as Vital for Progress in the Western Hemisphere
Miami (Sept. 20)—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez addressed the Miami Herald Americas Conference focusing on the need to pass pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Peru, Colombia and Panama. The Secretary, who recently led a bipartisan delegation to the three countries, specifically highlighted the progress he saw on the ground in Colombia, a country which has made great strides toward ending violence and reducing poverty in recent years. (Opinion Editorial) (Remarks)
NIST Co-Sponsors Major Conference on Computer Security
Gaithersburg, Md. (Sept. 19)—This week, the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is co-sponsoring the 3rd Annual Security Automation Conference and Workshop including over 800 registrants from government, private industry, and academia. The conference is addressing how using specific technical standards enables automated management of computer-security settings, provides measurements for evaluating the impact of discovered computer-security issues, and ensures compliance with FISMA, the federal law that specifies processes for strengthening computer security. (More)
Commerce Department Hosts National Summit on American Competitiveness
Washington (Sept. 18)—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez convened the National Summit on American Competitiveness, a national meeting of private and public sector officials focusing on promoting innovation and economic development across the United States. The summit is a high-profile, one-day event in Washington D.C. to discuss ways to make America more competitive. (More) (Remarks)
33rd Secretary of Commerce, Norman Mineta, Honored at the Department of Commerce
Washington (Sept. 17)—At a ceremony at the Commerce Department, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez unveiled a portrait of the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Norman Mineta. Mineta was the first Asian Pacific American to serve in a Presidential Cabinet and was appointed in July 2000. After his service at the Commerce Department he went on to serve as Secretary of Transportation where he was the longest-serving Secretary in the history of that Department. Mineta and his wife, Deni, are pictured at the unveiling with Secretary Gutierrez. (Larger Image)