[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 13178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5399]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration


Department of Commerce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 
Workshop With Industry on April 6, 2005 From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

AGENCY: Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; U.S. Department of Commerce RFID workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Technology Administration invites representatives from the 
high technology industry in the United States to participate in a half-
day workshop to discuss the latest advances in Radio Frequency 
Identification (RFID) technology to include: the benefits of RFID, 
technology development efforts, current and future applications, and 
privacy and security considerations.

DATES: RSVP must be received at the address below by no later than 
March 30th, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Please submit names of attendees to Mr. Saul Summerall, 
Office of Technology Policy, Technology Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Room 4817, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. Names of attendees may also be submitted by fax 
at 202-501-6849 or e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sujata Millick, Technology 
Administration, telephone: 202-482-6804; fax: 202-501-6849, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to the 
Office of Public Affairs, Technology Administration, Ms. Cheryl 
Mendonsa, Director, 202-482-8321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Commerce's National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Technology 
Administration held a workshop in April 2004 titled From RFID to Smart 
Dust: The Expanding Market for Wireless Sensor Technologies, looking at 
the market, the uses, and the policy issues related to Radio Frequency 
Identification (RFID) technologies. (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/forums/sensors/index.html). RFID in 2005: Technology and Industry Perspectives 
follows the 2004 workshop and aims to engage stakeholders and industry 
in discussions about the potential of the technology and its policy 
implications.
    The primary objective of the workshop is to educate stakeholders 
and policymakers about the benefits of RFID technology, technology 
development efforts, current and future applications, and privacy and 
security considerations, as well as to understand industry's 
experiences in implementing RFID technologies. In this half-day 
workshop, industry panelists will give brief presentations on their 
development, use, or management of RFID technology. The final panel 
will address the challenge of responsible data policies to sustain RFID 
technology and develop consumer confidence and acceptance of RFID.
    RFID technology applications have the immense potential to enhance 
commerce, personal and business security, and government and business 
processes. Market estimates for RFID applications range from about $1 
billion in 2004 to almost $5 billion by 2008, with about 30% of all 
capital goods carrying RFID tags by 2008. This has important 
implications for businesses and consumers. Introduction of RFID 
technology into the marketplace requires an explanation of the benefits 
of the technology and discussions about actual and perceived 
challenges.
    In the case of RFID: technical standards, spectrum, international 
operability, implementation costs, data privacy and security 
considerations are part of the current discourse on RFID. The 
Department of Commerce wants to use this workshop opportunity to ensure 
that RFID industry concerns and views are heard and that accurate 
information about the features and abilities of RFID are disseminated.

    Dated: March 14, 2005.
Phillip J. Bond,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 05-5399 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
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