[Meetings]
Tauzin's tasks and timetable

EFF has received a copy of a memo distributed by House Commerce Committee staff counsel on behalf of Rep. Tauzin, providing "assignments" and deadlines for participants in yesterday's roundtable meeting.

The memo is included below.

The following is a memo sent by committee staff to participants in Rep. Tauzin's roundtable on digital television that was held here in DC. It documents the demands Tauzin issued during a 2-1/2-hour DTV roundtable discussion yesterday morning. More than two dozen industry executives, FCC staff, others, including Jack Valenti, Fox Group Pres.-Engineering Andrew Setos and NCTA Pres. Robert Sachs. Rep. Tauzin has been holding a series of informal "roundtable" discussions to promote solutions to the Congressionally mandated DTV transition.

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Thank you all for attending this morning's Roundtable discussion. We hope that you found the discussion as productive as we did. We wanted to clarify the assignments that Chairman Tauzin made to the group and ensure that everyone is aware of exactly when the written responses are due into the Committee. Responses are best e-mailed to us at the following addresses. We are sending this to the e-mail addresses that we have in our system, please forward this message to the proper company representatives, etc. or anyone else who we have missed. Fritz [Attaway?] - please make sure that all your member companies receive this. Thanks and please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions.

[Jessica Wallace, Linda Bloss-Baum, House Commerce Committee counsel]

TO ALL:

1. What is your association's/company's position on the best process to implement the BPDG's recommended criteria for Table A eligibility (i.e. - who decides when arbitration, when criteria has been met, general process, etc?) Due: June 21, 2002

TO BSA/ITIC:

2. Would you support legislative, regulatory and or licensing requirements to enforce the terms of the BPDG document produced by the discussion group last week? Due: June 21, 2002

TO ALL:

3. Anyone with problems/outstanding technical issues with the BPDG final report, please respond in writing by June 14, 2002.

TO STUDIOS:

4. Each individual studio should provide its definition of a personal digital network environment. This definition should be specific and explain the company's position beyond mere examples. A general answer from MPAA will be deemed nonresponsive. Due: June 14, 2002

TO PHILIPS:

5. Please provide in writing a specific detailed description of the problems in the BPDG technical specifications and the process in general. Please provide suggestions as to how the process could be improved. Please explain the technology you sought for Table A status that was denied. Due: June 14, 2002

TO NEWS CORP.:

6. Please provide in writing a summary of the problems with the aforementioned Philips technical proposal. Due: June 14, 2002