NIST Initiative on the U.S. Measurement System (USMS)

1. NIST Initiative on the U.S. Measurement System (USMS) Roadmapping America’s Measurement Needs for a Stronger Innovation InfrastructureA Private-Public Initiative for the Future Tim Drapela Optoelectronics Division National Institute of Standards and Technology July 13, 2005 drapela@boulder.nist.gov (303) 497-5858

2. NIST’s Mission To develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. NIST

3. Consider the US “measurement system” The USMS comprises the methods, instruments, entities, institutions, and standards – both physical and documentary – involved in measurements USMS stakeholders include… • Customers / potential customers for, and providers of, measurement improvements/services • Major associations representing many measurement customers • Decision makers guiding priorities and resources NIST

4. Economic returns for measurements • Measurement cost is often significant • ~50% of the cost of specialty optical fiber is attributed to measurements • ~15% of semiconductor fabrication equipment cost is related to measurement • Lack of traceable measurements add to these costs • Expanded in-house metrology costs • Transaction costs (additional cost of dealing with customers and suppliers) NIST

5. The problem • The USMS has become so broad, diverse, and disaggregated that it lacks an organizing coordinating element that makes it a system • Contrast with EU: countries and regional blocs creating more coherent, centralized systems with competitive advantage • How do we effectively address current needs and anticipate new needs?? NIST

6. NIST’s proposed solution Create a strong private-public partnership that identifies America’s measurement needs and strengthens the U.S. infrastructure for innovation NIST

7. NIST USMS initiative Working with others, NIST will • Develop and publish a USMS “roadmap” on a regular basis • a forward-looking “strategic plan” report to customers and stakeholders • describes what needs to be done, whether by NIST or others, to address the needs of the USMS • describes the consequences of not meeting those needs Participants should include all private- and public-sector entities with a stake in a strong, responsive, and forward-looking USMS NIST

8. Information gathering is critical to success 1. Hold a series of workshops that… • Are publicly announced • Seek broad customer and stakeholder participation • Solicit written or oral input from USMS customers and stakeholders • Rely on USMS customers as primary speakers • Summarize results in 3-5 page reports • Take place on an ongoing basis • Cover a wide range of USMS topics 2. Obtain inputs from existing industry roadmaps NIST

9. Outputs & benefits • NIST will regularly report on the state of the USMS to customers and stakeholders • The report will state the strategic challenges • Identify systemic gaps or weaknesses in the USMS (both measurement science and documentary standards) • allow issues to be anticipated earlier • frame a more coordinated response • provide USMS participants a larger strategic context for what they do, both individually and together • Articulate the consequences of not acting NIST

10. Timetable NIST

11. Why Broadband Telecom? • In this, the “information age,” the U.S. must maintain a leadership role in deployment and access • Not doing so  profound negative impact on U.S. competitiveness in global markets, not to mention “quality of life” issues, job creation, etc. • Wide-ranging measurement issues spanning multiple technologies & markets – a perfect fit for NIST USMS efforts • Critical enabling technology: • For the U.S. economy • For national defense & homeland security • For myriad other technologies & industries NIST

12. Why TIA? All players – government, private sector and consumers – should participate in the formulation of broadband policy. “Industry Playbook,” TIA, 2004 Advances in telecommunications dramatically transform the way people live, work, learn, communicate and conduct business, and long-term research is essential to insure that these transformations serve human needs, are productive for society and sustainable over the long term. . . . the leadership position of the United States in this vital area is waning, threatening our country with potential innovation declines. “Investing in Telecom for Tomorrow’s Innovations: The Case for Increased Telecommunications Research Funding,” TIA, 2005 NIST

13. TIA plays a leadership role • TIA represents virtually ALL key telecom stakeholders • TIA provides valuable services: • As a standards-development organization, TIA and its members are the correct stakeholders to examine telecom measurement issues, needs, gaps, etc. • As an advocate for U.S. Telecom policy, TIA can provide the right framework for understanding measurement impacts within broader policy discussions • USMS participation can better align NIST with telecom-industry measurement needs NIST

14. USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications Access and Transport The telecommunications industry is a significant and growing market in the U.S. economy, as well as a critical enabling technology for a wide range of industries. In 2004 President Bush called for universal broadband access by 2007 for all Americans. The broadband industry is unique, in that several widely different technologies are used across various platforms, such as DSL, fiberoptics to the premises (FTTP), free-space optical, cable modems, mobile and fixed wireless, satellite, and powerline. New trends and technological drivers include bundled services, data transport, digital video, voice over internet (VoIP), wireless internet (including Wi-Fi), and future military needs such as ground-to-satellite and satellite-to-satellite communications. Measurement issues for broadband telecommunications are technologically challenging and span multiple technologies and markets. NIST

15. USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications Access and Transport . . . continued Other countries/regions have developed strategic visions for broadband deployment and have been taking the lead in measurement specification and standardization. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ranked the U.S. 16th, and declining, in broadband deployment. Industry groups, including IEEE and the TIA have called for a national broadband policy, to be developed by a partnership of government, industry, and consumers. This workshop, as an integral part of NIST's U.S. Measurement System roadmapping efforts, will address the measurement aspects of such a policy for this critical industry segment. Areas where broad measurement issues are anticipated include: convergence (platforms and technologies), higher-speed systems, interoperability, upgradeability, reliability, service bundling, security/encryption, and conformance-testing/performance-verification. NIST

16. USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications Access and Transport . . . continued Workshop Preliminary Details: Current plans (7/05) are to split the workshop into several industry-segment-specific sessions, co-located with major conferences or meetings. Date(s): various sessions, Fall 2005 – Spring 2006 Venue(s): sessions to co-locate w/major conferences/meetings (e.g., proposal for optical-fiber session at OFC/NFOEC) NIST expertise (Program Committee): optoelectronics, RF and microwave propagation (including emergency-responder communications), and advanced network (IT) technologies. We need expertise/feedback for satellite, wired (twisted-pair and coax), powerline???, free-space optical???, other technologies??? NIST

17. USMS Broadband Telecom Workshop Metrology Supporting Broadband Telecommunications Access and Transport . . . continued For more information, or for comments/suggestions on sessions, co-location, content, or speakers, contact: Tim Drapela, NIST Optoelectronics Division (303)497-5858 drapela@boulder.nist.gov Kate Remley, NIST Electromagnetics Division (303)497-3652 remley@boulder.nist.gov For more/updated details on the NIST USMS initiative, visit: http://usms.nist.gov NIST