[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30221]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration


Announcing a Public Workshop on Digital Entertainment and Rights 
Management

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce Technology 
Administration (TA) announces a public workshop on digital 
entertainment and its availability to consumers. The workshop will help 
gather data on such issues as the strengths, weaknesses and 
availability of current and imminent technological solutions to protect 
digital content, barriers that are inhibiting movies, music and games 
from coming online and the capability of networks to handle digital 
content such as video-on-demand to the home. Limited seating will be 
available to members of the general public. It is recommended that 
persons wishing to become general public attendees call in advance to 
reserve seating, on a first come, first served basis.

DATES: This workshop will be held on December 17, 2001, from 9 a.m.-4 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Herbert C. Hoover Building, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4830, Washington, DC. Entrance on 
14th St. between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves., NW.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information may be obtained 
from Chris Israel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, 
Technology Administration, (202) 482-5687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its statutory authority found at 
15 U.S.C. 3704(c), the Technology Administration is authorized, among 
other things, to do the following:
     Conduct technology policy analyses to improve United 
States industrial productivity, technology, and innovation, and 
cooperate with United States industry in the improvement of its 
productivity, technology, and ability to compete successfully in world 
markets;
     Determine the relationships of technological developments 
and international technology transfers to the output, employment, 
productivity, and world trade performance of United States and foreign 
industrial sectors;
     Determine the influence of economic, labor and other 
conditions, industrial structure and management, and government 
policies on technological developments in particular industrial sectors 
worldwide;
     Identify technological needs, problems, and opportunities 
within and across industrial sectors that, if addressed, could make a 
significant contribution to the economy of the United States;
     Assess whether the capital, technical and other resources 
being allocated to domestic industrial sectors which are likely to 
generate new technologies are adequate to meet private and social 
demands for goods and services and to promote productivity and economic 
growth;
     Propose and support studies and policy experiments, in 
cooperation with other Federal agencies, to determine the effectiveness 
of measures with the potential of advancing United States technological 
innovation;
     Serve as a focal point for discussions among United States 
companies on topics of interest to industry and labor, including 
discussions regarding manufacturing and discussions regarding emerging 
technologies; and,
     Consider government measures with the potential of 
advancing United States technological innovation and exploiting 
innovations of foreign origin.
    With these responsibilities in mind, the Technology Administration 
is planning on holding a full-day, moderated series of informal 
discussions with relevant stakeholders to gather information on the 
availability of digital entertainment and status of copyright 
protection and rights management tools. The discussions will help 
gather data on such issues as the strengths, weaknesses and 
availability of technological solutions, as well as network capability.

    Authority: This work effort is being initiated pursuant to TA's 
statutory responsibilities, codified at section 3704 of Title 15 of 
the United States Code.

    Dated: November 30, 2001.
Phillip J. Bond,
Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 01-30221 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
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