"Ethernet in the Last Mile" Call for Interest

A request for agenda time for a "Call for interest" in Ethernet in the Last Mile has been received. It will be discussed during the IEEE 802 LMSC November Plenary meeting in Tampa, FL. If you have any questions please get in touch with either Howard Frazier or Geoff Thompson (Chair 802.3), directly.

The IEEE 802.3 Working Group is sponsoring a Call for Interest meeting on the subject of "Ethernet in the Last Mile" on Tuesday, November 7th, 2000 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Tampa, FL, in conjunction with the plenary meeting of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee. The meeting will be held from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

The term "Ethernet in the Last Mile" refers to the use of the Ethernet/802.3 media access protocol and physical layer specifications in what is referred to as the "Access" application space. This space includes the network infrastructure which connects the end user's customer premise equipment to a service provider. The premise is that Ethernet technology can be applied to this space, with benefits to both consumers and producers.

The purpose of the meeting is to gauge the level of interest and support for a new IEEE standards project in this area. Several speakers will present their views on the technical and economic factors which bear on the subject, and questions from the audience will be entertained.

If a sufficient level of interest is in evidence, the IEEE 802.3 Working Group will be asked to create an "Ethernet in the Last Mile" Study Group, chartered to develop a proposal for an IEEE standards activity in this area. This request would be made during the closing plenary meeting of the IEEE 802.3 Working Group, scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 9th.

Howard Frazier is coordinating the "Ethernet in the Last Mile" Call for Interest meeting. Interested parties are invited to make presentations on the topic, though due to the short amount of time available for this meeting and the anticipated number of requests for airtime, presentations must be kept brief and to the point. Presentations should address the question of whether or not the IEEE 802.3 Working Group should create an "Ethernet in the Last Mile" Study Group.

If you would like to make a presentation at the meeting, please contact Howard no later than Monday, October 30th, 2000. Howard can be reached via email at: millardo@dominetsystems.com

Howard Frazier
DomiNet Systems, Inc.