[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 2017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-801]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Notice, Roundtable on Convergence of Communications Technologies, 
``Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)''

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) will host an afternoon roundtable discussion on Voice over 
Internet Protocol (VoIP). The roundtable will address the technical and 
functional aspects of VoIP, the state of the VoIP marketplace, and the 
policy and regulatory issues that may arise with use of such 
convergence technology.

DATES: The roundtable will be held 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, 
February 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The roundtable will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC in Room 4830. 
(Entrance to the Department of Commerce is on 14th Street between 
Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues.) This roundtable is open to the 
public. To facilitate entry into the Department of Commerce, please 
have a photo identification and/or U.S. Government building pass, if 
applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Guy, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Communications and Information, at (202) 482-1840, or 
electronic mail: [email protected]. Media inquiries should be directed 
to the Office of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Advancements in the development of Internet 
Protocol (IP) technologies are expanding the viability of IP-based 
networks to support additional features, including the transmission of 
voice, commonly referred to as VoIP. While traditional telephone 
service uses circuit-switched technology to establish a dedicated line 
between communicating parties, VoIP applications use packet-switched 
technology that divides the voice transmission into packets of data and 
sends them over the fastest available route. VoIP systems may use 
bandwidth more efficiently and may represent cost savings for providers 
and subscribers by using a single network for both voice and data. VoIP 
has been developing over the last decade, with a number of companies 
already deploying the service or announcing introduction in the near 
future.
    NTIA's roundtable will address the issues necessary to understand 
VoIP, how it works, the marketplace trends, and the impacts VoIP may 
have on communications and information policies and regulations. As the 
principal adviser to the President on communications and information 
policies, NTIA is vested with ``[t]he authority to conduct studies and 
make recommendations concerning the impact of the convergence of 
computer and communications technology.'' 47 U.S.C. Sec.  902(M). The 
roundtable dialogue will help the Administration to better understand 
the technology, its relation to the telecommunications market, 
especially to broadband, and prepare for participation in other venues, 
including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
    The roundtable will be divided into three sessions. First, NTIA 
will present a brief overview of VoIP, featuring a demonstration of 
VoIP technology using the Commerce Department's newly-installed VoIP 
telephone system. Two panel discussions will follow: the first panel 
will focus on the VoIP marketplace, and the second panel will address 
policy considerations for VoIP. Each of these sessions will also 
include a brief audience question and answer session.
    The roundtable will be webcast. A final, updated copy of the 
agenda, including a link for the webcast will be available on NTIA's 
web page at www.ntia.doc.gov.

Public Participation

    This meeting will be open to the public. Seating for public 
attendees is limited and is available on a first-come, first served 
basis. The roundtable will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Any member of the public wishing to attend and requiring 
special services, such as sign language interpretation or other 
ancillary aids, should contact Jennifer Guy (see contact information 
above) at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: January 9, 2003.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-801 Filed 1-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-M