President's Message

The mid-point of 2009 serves as a natural reflection point, given the changes the last six months have affected in the communications ecosystem.

If we look around, we see the industry moving into an age of increased efficiency, with every organization looking to maximize its existing resources. At the same time, day-to-day work continues: companies must deliver the seamless communications experience consumers require, while simultaneously grappling with the demand for increasingly improved technologies.

During the past six months, ATIS has continued to develop those capabilities, and address those circumstances impacting the larger industry. In fact, ATIS’ ongoing commitment to business-driven solutions has been acknowledged by the larger communications community. Despite challenges, ATIS has successfully recruited 11 new members at this point in 2009. We recognize that broad-based membership increases both our organizational effectiveness and furthers our members’ ongoing strategies. To that end, we are currently developing new outreach tools and strategies to further diversify and expand existing membership.

Beyond simple outreach, it is ATIS’ timely, compelling work that will attract new members. In this newsletter you’ll see that ATIS’ current initiatives not only focuses on the communications’ industry’s immediate needs, but anticipates the solutions required of tomorrow’s marketplace. This is exemplified in both our forthcoming TOPS Council initiatives and our SUPERCOMM programming.

As we continue through 2009, industry’s joint commitment to innovation and business-driven standardized solutions will ensure our continued success.

Sincerely,

President & CEO
Susan M. Miller

2009 TOPS Priorities
New Work Areas Identified

The TOPS Council’s 2009 work will focus on three priority areas: Policy Management, Carrier Ethernet, and Facilities Consolidation.

Policy Management
As new service offerings are deployed in a multi-carrier, multi-vendor, and multi-network environment, Policy Management becomes an increasingly important component to the development of NGN and Convergence standards.

To address this priority area, the TOPS Council will form a Policy Management Focus Group to conduct an assessment of current Policy Management practices from a network perspective. Specifically, this assessment will include: 1) an inventory of Policy Management standards activities ongoing in the industry; 2) an assessment of specific issues related to Packet Processing, Convergence and Policy Charging Control; and 3) identification of any other issues that have been recognized in the ATIS NGN, Convergence, and SON efforts, but are not within the purview of established ATIS committees or forums.

The deliverable of the Policy Management Focus Group will consist of an industry inventory of standards activities, a technical assessment of these standards activities and identification of issues that need to be addressed by the industry. The group will also develop conclusions and recommendations on how to address the issues that have been identified.

Carrier Ethernet
As Carriers continue to rollout their Ethernet networks and services, and suppliers are working to provide products which meet standards conformity; the potential shortcomings of existing standards and practices for these technologies needs to be assessed to assure ATIS members’ needs are being met in a technical and business driven manner.

To advance this priority area, the TOPS Council will hold a workshop for inter-company and inter-forum collaboration to assess and identify any actions to support the continued development of Carrier Ethernet, and related Layer 2 and 3 standards from a global perspective. The objective of the workshop is to serve as a starting point for discussions regarding the advancement of Carrier Ethernet and other technologies integral to Ethernet based networks (i.e. MPLS, 802.g).

The expected outcome and deliverable of the workshop will consist of an industry inventory of standards activities, a high level assessment and issue identification for Layer 2 and 3 technologies, and recommendations as appropriate.

Facilities Consolidation
Technology has progressed significantly since the planning and building of our nation’s telecommunications networks in the twentieth century. The design of telecommunications network equipment such as switches, trunks, and access technologies has advanced considerably and many of these new technologies offer carriers more cost-effective and environmentally friendly service provisioning.

However, as service providers attempt to implement advances in their networks, it has become clear that existing regulations, geographic-based boundaries, systems and standards can inhibit the deployment and use of these newer technologies.

In order to assess the issues faced by service providers who wish to implement facilities consolidation within their business and network plans, the TOPS Council will form a task force on Facilities Consolidation. The objective of the task force will be (1) to identify the technologies and implementations which present the opportunities for cost savings in consolidation and the requirements which impede their deployment; and (2) to make recommendations to the TOPS Council and ATIS Board of Directors on the need for and feasibility of further action to develop coordinated industry best practices, regulatory agendas, or other direction towards a common solution.

For more information, please contact Tim Jeffries at: tjeffries@atis.org.

CIO Council Advances New Work
Priority Initiatives Identified

Over the last few months, ATIS’ CIO Council has progressed work on its 2009 priority initiatives: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), Service Oriented Networks (SON), Enterprise Risk Management, and Data Center Power Management.

A FOSS Working Group was established to further advance existing open-source lifecycle management work. In the near term, the Working Group will focus on best practices identification, and information-sharing related to FOSS implementation.

With regards to SON, the CIO Council has placed representatives in each of the SON Forum’s task forces. Going forward, the Council will provide IT expertise in support of the Forum’s work.

The Council also convened a Risk Management Working Group to share best practices, and implementation approaches in several areas including: data privacy and protection; virtualization and cloud computing; and digital rights management.

In support of Power Management, the Council has recently been leveraging the findings of the Exploratory Group on Green to assess the possibility of “greening” existing data centers. Next steps in this process include surveying participating companies to gauge current practices’ effectiveness.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Reigle at: yreigle@atis.org.

ATIS Technology Conference at SUPERCOMM
Scheduled for October 21-22, 2009

During this ATIS two-day Conference, senior industry executives will examine how
The New Networks: IPTV, LTE and Service Oriented Networks represent a paradigm-shift in service provision and the current communications ecosystem.

IPTV
IPTV will redefine how consumers think of television -- it promises revolutionary new content, increased interaction, and an unparalleled entertainment experience. Because of IPTV’s incredible potential, global communications providers are rapidly deploying IPTV solutions. ATIS’ IPTV programming will explore areas that have the potential to increase IPTV’s proliferation and end-user adoption. Those areas include:

• Over-the-top operators
• Integrating the social network experience
• Deploying next-generation network infrastructure
• And more

View IPTV Track Schedule-at-a-Glance

SON
Telcos are radically changing the way they leverage their networks, and Web 2.0 has played a major role in this transformation. The incorporation of Web 2.0 capabilities into Telcos' vast infrastructure represents a paradigm-shift in the communications industry. Service Oriented Networks (SON) will allow Telcos to tap into the Internet’s applications environment – thus marrying the network’s inherent capabilities and web developers’ resources. Hear industry experts discuss:

• How tomorrow’s open, adaptable networks will reshape the communications status-quo
• How Service Oriented Networks will leverage network virtualization and decentralization to provide fundamentally new services and capabilities
• What practical, business-focused concerns accompany Service Oriented Networks, such as content ownership, OSS/BSS, and QOS concerns

View the SON Track Schedule-at-a-Glance

LTE
Long Term Evolution or LTE has been heralded as the next generation in wireless communications. Enabling maximum theoretical downlink speeds rivaling today’s fastest facilities-based solutions, LTE will enable a fundamentally different wireless broadband experience. Indeed, with global wireless data traffic predicted to surpass 3,000 petabytes by 2012, faster speeds and more robust networks will be necessary. Scheduled sessions will feature:

• 3GPP’s assessment of LTE’s current standardization state and increasing economies of scale
• Voice service on LTE networks
• How widespread LTE deployment in the 700MHz band will impact larger industry
• An examination of how LTE will potentially spur widespread femtocell adoption

View the LTE Track Schedule-at-a-Glance

ATIS would like to recognize Amdocs, Ericsson, GENBAND and Motorola for their sponsorship. For speaking and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lauren Layman at: llayman@atis.org.

Please visit http://www.atis.org/supercomm for more information.

IIF Expands Reach
Group to Consider Internet-Sourced Content

At ATIS’ Board of Directors meeting in late May, the mission of the IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) was expanded to include the standardized delivery of Internet-sourced content over an IPTV network. Up until this time, the IIF has concentrated on standardizing delivery of broadcast TV.

ATIS’ Board agreed that the IIF should identify and prioritize issues surrounding Internet-sourced content including quality of service and media format issues. Using these priorities, the IIF will develop specifications needed to standardize delivery of internet content to television’s average consumer over IPTV networks.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

IIF Seeks Participants for Survey on IPTV Ecosystem
Work Ensures Meaningful Deliverables

The ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) has prepared a Customer Quality of Experience (QoE) survey which will be used to ensure that the IIF’s Quality of Service Metrics Committee (QoSM) is concentrating on IPTV service providers' relevant work. Results of this survey will help guide the IIF and the QOSM Committee in the development of future work items.

If your company is interested in assisting the IIF by responding to the survey, please email contact information for individuals responsible for monitoring or trouble-shooting IPTV service (company, name, title, email address) to Alexandra Blasgen, ATIS Committee Administrator, at ablasgen@atis.org as soon as possible, as survey responses are due by August 3rd. Note that any contact involved in IPTV Service with whom you do business would also be a candidate for this survey, as we are looking for contact information for any IPTV Service Provider.

The survey process will preserve the confidentiality of the individual responders. Responses will be filtered to remove company identifying information so that the IIF and its QoSM Committee will not know who provided the answers.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

PTSC Develops Next-Gen Interconnection Task Force
Enabling Next-Gen Services over Diverse Networks

ATIS recently formed a Next Generation Carrier Interconnect (NG-CI) Task Force within its Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC). The NG-CI Task Force’s objective is to develop a set of verifiable specifications to achieve seamless, service-specific, next-gen carrier interconnection.

These specifications will help communications service providers accelerate the development of holistic, next-gen interconnection solutions. While the NG-CI Task Force will initially focus on voice and VOIP interconnection, the specifications may eventually be extended to support multimedia -- and other services -- traversing disparate technologies and networks.

The NG-CI Task Force is Chaired by Bhumip Khasnabish, Senior Member of Verizon’s Technical Staff, and is vice-chaired by Mike Hammer, Technical Leader at Cisco.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

NIIF Releases Emergency Notification Procedure
Outlines Best Practices for Wireline Call Volume Testing

In late May, ATIS’ Network Interconnection and Interoperability Forum (NIIF) published Best Practices for Emergency Notification System (ENS) Call Volume Testing Procedure: Wireline.

This set of Best Practices -- of interest to Carriers, ENS Service Providers, ENS Vendors, and ENS end-users -- will facilitate efficient delivery of high volumes of emergency notifications over the public switched telephone network. Materially, these practices address the issues associated with increased traffic volumes during times of crisis.

Developed in coordination with public and private entities (including public service commissions, emergency mass notification users, and emergency mass notification service providers and system vendors), the purpose of the advanced testing Best Practices is to foster cooperation between telecommunications service providers and ENS providers/users during testing.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

Ordering and Billing Forum Completes Interface Specifications Update
Allows for Automation of Jeopardy Responses

The Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF) Wireless Committee completed work on its latest version (5.0) of Wireless Intercarrier Communication Interface Specifications (WICIS). Published in May, this new version supports wireless companies’ automated processing of wireline carriers’ jeopardy responses – which are issued to indicate that the port may not be accomplished.

Wireless carriers that choose to incorporate WICIS 5.0’s specification will be better equipped to process large volumes of jeopardy responses. Note that appropriate changes were made to WICIS Volumes 1, 2 and 3 for this update.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

TFPC Creates Fraud Prevention Best Practices
Addresses Long Distance Fraud Prevention

ATIS’ Telecommunications Fraud Prevention Committee (TFPC) recently released a set of Best Practices titled: Fraud Involving Interconnection to a Long Distance Broker Exchange. These Best Practices are aimed at better identifying the conditions of fraud and bad debt in the long distance exchange marketplace.

Leveraging the TFPC’s vast experience and knowledge of the evolving communications industry, these practices will contribute to the reduction of fraud that costs industry tens of millions of dollars annually. Moreover, this document will likely increase fraudulent long-distance-trafficking’s visibility within the industry, while simultaneously providing basic instructions related to this fraud’s prevention, detection and response.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

BCSC Renamed AIDC
Name Change Reflects Developing Ecosystem

ATIS’ Bar Code/Standard Coding Committee’s (BCSC) name has changed to the Automatic Identification and Data Capture Committee (AIDC).

On May 14, 2009 the BCSC voted unanimously to change the Committee’s name to AIDC. This change reflects the increasing significance of RFID and other non-bar code solutions to the automatic identification space. The Committee’s name change more accurately characterizes the committee’s work on multiple identification technologies and establishes a connection with commonly-used industry terminology.

For more information, please contact Maria Estefania at: mestefania@atis.org.

2009 3GPP Leadership
ATIS Delegates Hold 3GPP Chairman Positions

Two ATIS delegates to 3GPP have been selected to oversee some of the Partnership’s most important work. Dr. Asok Chatterjee, Vice President, Strategic Standardization, Ericsson Inc., recently began his year-long Chairmanship of 3GPP’s Project Coordination Group (PCG). Additionally, Stephen Hayes, Principal Engineer with Ericsson Inc., was elected Chair of 3GPP’s Technical Specification Group, Service & Systems Aspects (TSG SA).

As the PCG’s Chairman, Dr. Chatterjee is responsible for chairing 3GPP’s Project Coordination Group’s meetings, and overseeing 3GPP’s Partner co-ordination activity. In this capacity, Dr. Chatterjee is essential to 3GPP’s liaison with other global standards groups – an important element to 3GPP’s continued success.

As TSG SA’s Chairman, Mr. Hayes is responsible for overseeing 3GPP’s network and system architecture, as well as its on-going inter-organization coordination. In this capacity, Hayes is instrumental in achieving internal cooperation within 3GPP’s structure.

AMOC Awards
ATIS Honors 2009 Annual Award Winners

ATIS honored its 2009 Annual Award winners at its Annual Meeting of the Committees (AMOC) held in Indian Wells, California. The awards celebrate the important contributions of ATIS’ members to its multiple committees and forums. They honor individuals that have consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to ATIS’ standards development programs and technical planning activities.

Awards were given in four categories: the Award for Distinguished Service in Communications Standards; the Award for Leadership in Standards Development; the Award for Outstanding Contributions to an ATIS Forum or Committee; and the President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Strategic Initiatives.

The 2009 Award for Distinguished Service in Communications Standards was presented to Tom Croda of C.S.I . Telecommunications.

The 2009 Award for Leadership in Standards Development was presented to Peter Musgrove of AT&T.

Sixteen individuals received Awards for Outstanding Contributions to an ATIS Forum or Committee. This award is presented to individuals who have provided valuable contributions to the development or completion of ATIS standards during the past year. The recipients of the 2009 ATIS Award for Outstanding Contributions are as follows: Rick Canaday of AT&T; Chris Coyle of Intertek; Brian Daly of AT&T; Eric Dornes of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI); Wesley Downum of Telcordia Technologies; Ryan Gfeller of Embarq; J.R. Gonzalez of Rogers International Consulting, L.L.C.; Gary Munson of AT&T; Karen Riepenkroger of Sprint; Bob Sherry of Intrado; Lisa Siard of Sprint; Beth Sprague of NeuStar; Robert Streijl of AT&T; and Sharon Weldon of TEOCO.

The President’s Award is awarded to an individual whose support, advice, and strategic insight have made significant contributions over the years to ATIS and its ability to provide world-class standards. The recipient of the 2009 President’s Award was Chuck Dvorak of AT&T.

Educational Initiatives
ATIS Continues Successful Webinar Series

ATIS conducts monthly Webinars intended to promote industry education and dialogue. In March, our Webinar assessed the current Home Networking standardization space. Our April Webinar focused on Service Oriented Networks’ paradigm-shifting capabilities. And in May, an LTE Webinar discussed the technology’s ongoing standardization, and impact on the current wireless broadband marketplace.

ATIS’ March Home Networking Webinar objectively assessed the current landscape of Home Networking standardization, and provided insights and solutions to this complex and multifaceted area. For a copy of the HNET Webinar slides, click here.

The April Webinar focused on Service Oriented Networks (SON). As businesses are increasingly moving at internet speed, and virtualizing their infrastructure it becomes increasingly important to blend partner capabilities. The Webinar explored SON’s emerging capabilities and discussed their inherent opportunities and challenges. For a copy of the SON Webinar slides, click here.

In May, our Webinar explored LTE’s future standardization, its relevance to the Public Safety community, and how LTE is fundamentally different from current high-speed wireless solutions. For a copy of the LTE Webinar slides, click here.