NOVEMBER 18, 2009 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold a staff workshop tomorrow, November 19, to learn more about the current experience with and future possibilities of advanced fiber networks.
Entitled “Future Fiber Architectures and Local Deployment Choices,” the FCC says the goal of the workshop will be to understand fiber and partial fiber networks that operate at speeds of 100 Mbps and faster as options for public institutions, small-to-medium-sized enterprises, “middle mile” transport of data in rural areas, and homes. Open to the public, the workshop is intended to gather data and information for the development of a National Broadband Plan.
The workshop will be held in the FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St. SW, Washington, DC starting at 9:30 am EST and running until 1 PM. Those interested in attending in person can register at http://www.broadband.gov/workshops/registration.htm?wsid=33. Others may attend on line; register in advance at http://www.broadband.gov/ws_future_fiber.html.
FCC participants will include:
- David Isenberg, Senior Advisor, National Broadband Taskforce
- Stagg Newman, Chief Technologist, National Broadband Taskforce
- Tom Koutsky, Senior Advisor, National Broadband Taskforce
- Jon Peha, Chief Technologist, FCC
- Walter Johnston, Chief, Electromagnetic Compatibility Division OET
The agenda includes a pair of panels. The first, starting at 9:35 am EST, is entitled, “Future Fiber Architecture.” Panelists scheduled to participate include:
- John Cioffi, Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Inc.
- David Reed, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
- David Reed, MIT Media Lab
- Dave Russell, Calix Networks, Inc.
- Johan Henæs, INS Communications
- John A Jay, Manager, Worldwide Applications Engineering, Corning
The second panel, slated to kick off at 11:30 am EST, will cover “Local Deployment Choices.” Participants are expect to include:
- Dick Lynch, Verizon Communications Inc.
- Joanne Hovis, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
- Tim Nulty, East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network
- Herman Wagter, Citynet Amsterdam
- Benoit Felten, Yankee Group Research, Inc.
The FCC says that such staff workshops are being held to promote an open dialog between the commission and key constituents on matters important to the National Broadband Plan. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed the FCC to submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress by February 17, 2010 that addresses broadband deployment, adoption, affordability, and the use of broadband to advance solutions to national priorities, including health care, education, energy, public safety, job creation, investment, and others.
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