..An Invitation to the IEEE-USA Workshop on U.S. National Policy for Accelerating Broadband Deployment..
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ieeeusa.org
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We invite you to participate in the upcoming Workshop sponsored by the IEEE-USA. The workshop will take place on June 17 and 18, 2002, at the Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC. This is a follow-on to the Joint IEEE-USA/Cornell University Workshop of 1999-2000:
“The Evolution of the U.S. Telecommunication Infrastructure over the Next Decade.”
The Problem and the Opportunity
We recognize the consensus tentatively reached by policy makers in the United States: in order to spur high technology development, to return our economy to rapid economic growth, and to avoid falling behind our economic rivals, the United States must accelerate broadband deployment. In light of these goals we propose for consideration at this second Workshop, networks based on Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber (GEF), an important innovative technology. GEF deserves visibility among the various technological options for the following reasons: It is a “simple network;” yet it offers an order of magnitude greater bandwidth, with costs lower than today’s traditional telco and cable technologies; and it is a technology that enables convergence of voice, data, and images to customers across the economic spectrum, providing connectivity at gigabit speeds.
GEF is not yet prominent on the “radar screens” of policy makers today, despite the impacts it is already having in the field among leading-edge technologists. We believe that policy makers in all sectors should understand GEF, its characteristics, and its potential.
Workshop Objective
Therefore, the objective of the Workshop is explicitly to include Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber, along with other broadband technologies, in the coming policy debate.
Technology Options
We introduce GEF through the Report of Technology Task Group 5 (TTG-5). Then we present technology discussions of the more familiar options (Digital Subscriber Line, cable modems, satellite, and fixed wireless) through their respective TTG Reports up-dated from the first Workshop.
(See, www.johnson.cornell.edu/faculty/mcadams/workshop).
These discussions are followed by a round-table technology discussion and analysis of the potential of each of these technologies to contribute to the national goal of rapid broadband deployment.
The Urgency
At the time of Workshop I, we perceived no technological threats from other quarters. The situation is much different today. Other countries – including Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and The Netherlands -- have moved more rapidly than has the US with particular fiber deployments, while the FCC defines “broadband” as anything greater than 200 kbps!
To establish the facts of the relative U.S. position in the world of networking, we are fortunate to have as our Keynote Speaker, Bill St. Arnaud. Bill leads the “CANARIE Group” of Canada, whose stated mission is to position Canada to be the world leader in high speed networking (including connectivity to end users) much as the United States has been the world leader in deployment of the Internet.
A GEF Scenario
Next we present a scenario from Scenario Task Group –1,(STG-1) capturing some key implications, including national policy implications, of how GEF might be implemented in networks in the field and their potential for meeting U.S. national goals. (Please note that a scenario is an “alternative future history.” It is a tracing of what might happen, not a proposal for what should happen or a forecast of what will happen. It is intended to enhance discussion and understanding by advancing plausible “histories” as if they had happened.)
The assumption of this scenario is that GEF has the potential to be recognized as the preferred, broadband-wire-line, network technology in the United States in the longer run, just as appears to be the case in Canada. Such an eventuality could well imply the need for strong U.S. policy action.
Discussion and Policy Issues
The presentation of the above scenario is followed by an open discussion of likely build-out approaches for the providers of networks based on DSL, cable modem and fixed wireless technologies, along with the public policy implications of each. Next, through STG-2, Scenario Task Group 2, an Overview of Public Policy Issues, we pose and examine existing and likely future policy issues related to broadband deployment.
Working Groups
In the evening working-sessions we ask participants to wrestle with the implications of the information introduced through the Workshop by assembling in working groups (WGs), each made up of diverse stakeholders, to formulate analyses and/or conclusions that the group perceives to be appropriate to U.S. policy options for broadband deployment. Each WG is to report the results of its deliberations to the Workshop, meeting in plenary session, the morning of Tuesday, June 18, for synthesis.
The Master Workshop schedule appears in the pages appended below. For background see NRC’s “BROADBAND, Bringing Home the Bits,” abstract:
books.nap.edu
We are anxious for you to join us for this exciting discussion of technology and policy options.
As our facilities are limited to approximately 100 participants, the Organizing Committee reserves the option to request identifiable groups with multiple participants to limit their number, and/or to act as necessary to ensure diverse participation.
Workshop Organizing Committee
Michael Bloom mebloom@commsvens.com
Luke Maki luke.Maki@ieee.org
Alan McAdams akm3@cornell.edu, Chair
Robert S. Powers RPOWERS/0002170024@mcimail.com
John Richardson jrichardson@umuc.edu
Debbie Rudolph d.rudolph@ieee.org
Ralph W. Wyndrum Jr. rww@monmouth.com
Registration Fee and Sleeping Rooms
A registration fee of $250 is required to attend the workshop. This fee covers food costs for the 2-day function. Please respond promptly using the attached registration form and send it to Deborah Rudolph no later than June 7, 2002.
For those who will need sleeping rooms, a block of rooms has been reserved at the Cosmos Club for June 16 and 17, in the name of “IEEE” at a rate of $110 single and $153 king size (plus 14.5% city tax and 15% service charge). For reservations at the Cosmos Club, please call them directly at (202) 387-7783 no later than May 15. Individuals are responsible for the costs of their sleeping rooms.
If you are interested in attending the workshop or learning more about it, please contact Deborah Rudolph at d.rudolph@ieee.org or at 202-785-0017 ext. 8332.
Master Workshop Schedule
Master Workshop Schedule
Monday, June 17, 2002, 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
9:30-9:45 am Welcome: The Objectives of the Workshop Alan McAdams
Cornell University,
Chair, IEEE-USA CCIP
INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY FUNDAMENTALS
9:45-10:15am TTG-5 Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber (GEF) Luke Maki
The Boeing Co
10:15-10:30 am TTG-1 Optical Fiber Jeff Tompkins
Corning Inc.
10:30-10:45 am TTG-2 Hybrid-Fiber-Coax Michael Bloom
Communications Strategies and Planning
10:45 -11:00 am TTG-3 Two-Way Wireless Harold Sobol/ Ferdo Ivanek
IEEE Communications Society
11:00-11:15 am BREAK
11:15-11:30 am TTG-4 DSL: Digital Subscriber Line John Cioffi
Stanford University
11:30-12:00 pm Discussion: Technology Fundamentals
12:00-1:00 pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Bill St. Arnaud
EVOLUTION OF GEF IN CANADA CANARIE of Canada
1:00-2:00 pm LUNCH: New Dining Room
2:00-3:00 pm Scenario: STG -1 POTENTIAL U.S. NATIONWIDE Jonathan Thatcher
DEPLOYMENT OF GIGABIT ETHERNET IEEE Standards,
OVER FIBER (GEF) -- WITH IMPLICATIONS World Wide Packets
DISCUSSION:
3:00–3:30 pm Alternatives and Policy implications
3:30-3:45 pm BREAK
3:45-4:15 pm Alternatives and Policy implications
4:15-5:00 pm STG-2, OVERVIEW: PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES John Richardson
University of Maryland Dale Hatfield
University of Colorado Boeing Company
*****
5:00-6:00 pm Informal Reception for All Attendees
Location: Patio
6:00–7:30 pm Banquet for Workshop Participants
Location: New Dining Room
7:30–9:00 pm Diverse Workshop Teams Refine Policy Scenarios of their Choosing
Joined by: Suppliers, RBOCs, ILECs, CLECs, Wireless,
Not-for-Profits, FCC, NTIA, Dept. of Agriculture,
Municipalities
Master Workshop Schedule
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
7:30–8:15 am Continental Breakfast
8:15–10:15 am Reports and discussions of Policy Scenarios by Diverse Workshop Teams
10:15–10:30 am BREAK
10:30–11:15 am Reports and discussions of Policy Scenarios by Diverse Workshop Teams
11:30–12:15 pm LUNCH
12:15-1:50 pm Discussion, Synthesis of Views Chair
1:50-2:00 pm Closing Remarks
ADJOURN
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN NO LATER THAN JUNE 7, 2002
IEEE-USA/Cornell Workshop on
U.S. National Policy for Accelerating Broadband Deployment
Cosmos Club
2121 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
June 17 and 18, 2002
REGISTRATION FORM
Name: _____________________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________________
Organization: _____________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Telephone #: _______________________ Fax #: _____________________
E-mail: _____________________________________________________
Registration Fee: $250.00
Registration Deadline/Cancellation Date & NO REFUNDS after: June 7, 2002
Please circle type: Visa, Master Card, AMEX, Diners Club
Name: _____________________________________________________
Credit Card No: Exp. Date: _____________
Please return completed form with registration by credit card or
check made payable to “IEEE-USA” to:
Ms. Deborah Rudolph
Manager, Technology Policy Activities
IEEE-USA
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202
Washington, D.C. 20036-5104
Tele.: (202) 785-0017 ext. 8332; Fax: (202) 785-0835; E-mail: dru |
