[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 40 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 9598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4420]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Wireless Sensor Technology Forum

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA), United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (USPTO), and Technology Administration (TA) will host a half-day 
forum on sensor technologies, entitled ``From RFID to Smart Dust: The 
Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies.'' The first panel 
will address the future market for sensor technologies by examining a 
variety of wireless sensor technologies, along with the current and 
potential future uses by industry and government. Panelists will 
include researchers, market analysts, and industry and government 
users. The second panel will address public policy issues facing sensor 
technologies such as spectrum use, privacy and security, and 
intellectual property. Panelists will include representatives from 
companies and government, as well as public policy analysts.

DATES: The Wireless Sensor Technology Forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 
1:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The forum on wireless sensor technologies will be held at 
the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Auditorium, Washington, DC. (Entrance to the Department of Commerce is 
on 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendy Lader, Office of Policy Analysis 
and Development, NTIA, at (202) 482-1880, or electronic mail: 
[email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to the Office of 
Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sensor applications stand to transform the 
way business is conducted by yielding greater efficiencies and by 
reducing costs for the retail, manufacturing, security, shipping and 
transportation industries by billions of dollars. These industries 
currently use limited radio frequency identification (RFID) technology 
in security systems, tollbooths, gasoline pumps, electronic ear tags 
for livestock, antitheft devices, toys and other products.\1\ Market 
analysts project that sensor technologies will be the next billion-
dollar market for the information technology industry, with current 
RFID projects and services generating $1 billion annually, but 
potentially growing to $7 billion by 2008.\2\
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    \1\ See Scientific American, ``RFID: A Key to Automating 
Everything,'' pp. 56-65 (January 2004).
    \2\ See ``RFID: Investing in the Next Multi-Billion Dollar I.T. 
Opportunity,'' Precursor Advisors (January 12, 2003).
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    According to the RFID Journal, RFID is a generic term used to 
describe technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify 
objects and consumer goods and products. RFID uses several methods to 
identify such items. One such method employs an RFID reader, which can 
process serial numbers stored on a microchip attached to an antenna 
(collectively known as the RFID tag). The RFID chip transmits 
information about the product to the RFID reader via radio waves. \3\
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    \3\ See RFID Journal, Frequently Asked Questions available at 
http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/207.
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    The Department of Commerce's forum on wireless sensor technologies 
is being held at a critical time when companies are actively debating 
the design and implementation of sensor applications worldwide.\4\ By 
holding this event, the Department of Commerce will increase awareness 
of sensor technology applications, their potential future economic 
impact, and public policy issues they may raise.
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    \4\ In 2003, the Department of Defense and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 
each announced requirements for suppliers to include passive-
tracking RFID tags on product shipments by 2005. Wal-Mart projects 
the implementation of RFID tags to generate $8.4 billion in annual 
cost savings. See ``Case Study: Wal-Mart's Race for RFID,'' CIO 
Insight (January 8, 2004).
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    Public Participation: The panel discussions will be open to the 
public and press on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. 
Due to security requirements and to facilitate entry to the Department 
of Commerce building, attendees must present photo identification and/
or a U.S. Government building pass, if applicable, and should arrive at 
least one-half hour ahead of the panel sessions. The public meeting is 
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 Wendy 
Lader at (202) 482-1880 or at [email protected] at least three (3) 
days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 24, 2004.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-4420 Filed 2-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P