FIRP Charter

   o Problem:  Internetworking and convergence of network protocols,
     particularly Internet and OSI (and proprietary where appropriate)
   o (Panel interprets this problem area broadly rather than narrowly)
   o Study short term and long term issues
   o Consider international relationships and implications
   o Recommend Federal actions
   o Seek views of public and private sectors


FIRP Scope

   o Identify Federal requirements, evaluate fit of protocols
   o Consider coexistence, interoperability and convergence options
   o Consider cost to agencies of alternatives
   o Consider process for Federal investments in research and
     development and infrastructure to best effect Federal requirements
   o Consider specifications, maintenance, and testing for Federal
     Information Processing Standards (FIPS)
   o Consider procurement and deployment scenarios
   o Report recommendations, identify issues outside of scope


FIRP Establishment

   o Endorsed by Federal Networking Council (FNC) and Federal
     Information Resource Management Policy Council (FIRMPoC)
   o Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested NIST to charter the
     panel
   o Panel Members:

      -  Diane Fountaine, DOD, Chair
      -  Jason Cannon, Treasury
      -  Mike Corrigan, GSA
      -  Dick desJardins, NASA
      -  Walt Houser, VA
      -  Bill Hughes, NTIA
      -  Milo Medin, NASA
      -  Tom Rowlett, DOE
      -  Steve Wolff, NSF


FIRP Schedule

   o Meetings biweekly October-December 1993
   o Initial draft report due by mid-January 1994
   o Report will be widely disseminated, announced and freely available
     on Internet
   o 30-day period of comments invited
   o Panel will reconvene to consider comments


FIRP Work Structure

   o Panel has divided its work into five areas:

      -  Requirements Issues
      -  International Interoperability and Trade Issues
      -  Standards Process Issues
      -  Technical and Technology Issues
      -  Economic and Cost Issues


Richard desJardins' Personal Opinions About FIRP

   o Panel has the right people, mix of views, responsibilities
   o Panel members are not simpletons, they're smart about problem
   o The problem is not simple, but a good outcome is achievable
   o Panel members aim to come up with recommendations for Federal
     actions that will fix the problem, achieve the goal
   o Goal is to achieve effective Federal interoperability, allowing
     agencies to meet their mission needs at low cost, while taking
     international implications into account