[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 44597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16740]



[[Page 44597]]

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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 status of technical standards that 
provide the framework necessary to enable legitimate digital media 
distribution and the present state of 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.

DATES: This workshop will be held on July 17, 2002, from 1 p.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 between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves., NW.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information relevant to the 
substantive issues to be addressed by this workshop may be obtained 
from Chris Israel Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, 
Technology Administration, (202) 482-5687. Limited seating will be 
available to members of the general public. It is recommended that 
persons wishing to become general public attendees arrive early, as 
seating will be first come, first served.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its statutory authority found at 
15 U.S.C. 3704(c), the Technology Administration is authorized, among 
other things, to conduct technology policy analyses to improve United 
States industrial productivity, technology, and innovation, cooperate 
with United States industry in the improvement of its productivity, 
technology, and ability to compete successfully in world markets, and 
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.
    With these responsibilities in mind, the Technology Administration 
is planning on holding a 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 strength, weaknesses and availability of technological 
solutions, as well as network capability, and the proper role for the 
Government in facilitating solutions that are best for innovation and 
best for consumers.
    Topics to be addressed at the workshop include:

[rtrif] The effectiveness of efforts to pursue technical standards or 
solutions that are designed to provide a more predictable and secure 
environment for digital transmission of copyright material;
[rtrif] Major obstacles facing an open commercial exchange of digital 
content;
[rtrif] What a future framework for success might entail;
[rtrif] Current consumer attitude towards online entertainment.

    The workshop will focus on these and other related issues. Anyone 
wishing to comment on these or raise related issues is free to do so, 
either in writing before the meeting, or in person at the meeting. 
Prior comments will be collected via the Technology Administration Web 
site--www.ta.doc.gov/<http://www.ta.doc.gov/. and are 
requested by July 11, 2002.

    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: June 28, 2002.
Phillip J. Bond,
Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 02-16740 Filed 7-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-18-M