2 September 1997 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: September 2, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 169)] [Notices] [Page 46394-46395] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02se97-118] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice No. 2597] Advisory Committee on Private International Law; Meeting of Study Group on Electronic Commerce The Department of State's Advisory Committee Study Group on Electronic Commerce will hold its next meeting Thursday, September 18 in Washington, DC from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to review legal issues and possible international guidelines, model national laws or other international legal initiatives on electronic signatures, including digital signature systems, that could be developed by international organizations. The Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled immediately prior to meetings of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) new Drafting Group on a proposed uniform electronic [[Page 46395]] transactions act, which is considering a variety of legal issues for possible inclusion in uniform state laws. The NCCUSL Drafting Group will meet in Arlington, Virginia September 19-21; information on that meeting can be obtained as indicated below. The State Department Advisory Committee meeting will review issues that may arise at meetings of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and possibly at other bodies relating to digital and other forms of electronic signatures. For this purpose meeting participants or commentators may wish to express views on the report of the UNCITRAL Working Group on Electronic Commerce's first inter-governmental meeting on digital signatures, U.N. Doc. A/ CN.9/437, March 12, 1997, which is available from outlets for United Nations documents or directly from the State Department's Office of Legal Adviser at contact numbers set out below. Issues that may be reviewed by the Advisory Committee include, but are not limited to, whether it is preferable to encourage international bodies to examine all forms of electronic signatures, or concentrate on digital signature systems; whether national or international legal norms should encompass both regulated/licensed systems and unregulated private sector systems; whether rules for digital systems should encompass rules for commercial transactions, and if so, what types of rules; whether rules on risk allocation, attribution and reliance are critical; whether third party assurance providers, such as certifying authorities, should have to meet minimum levels of assurance; what role information security standards should play in this process; whether rules are needed on incorporation by reference of systems rules or other underlying standards; what types of rules for cross-certification between different countries are feasible; whether agreement should be sought on underlying rules for accreditation, and if so, in what international bodies; and other related issues. Related developments in this field will be reviewed as appropriate, including those of the National Conference of Commissioners and the American Bar Association, as well as State and Federal initiatives, including those under the auspices of the Commerce Department, the Postal system, and others. The relationship between electronic signature systems and preliminary work on international electronic registries for commercial finance interests will also be examined, depending on time availability. Participants may wish to review the recently completed UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, available with a Guide to Enactment from U.N. document outlets as Doc. V.97-22269, May 1997, or from the Office of the Legal Adviser, which covers the legal effect and validity of computer messages in commercial transactions; functional equivalents of signatures, writings, etc.; attribution of messages; time and place where communications are deemed to have taken place, and other matters. The meeting of the Advisory Committee Study Group is open to the public up to the capacity of the meeting room, and will be held at the Department of State in Conference Room 5951. Participants should use the 21st Street entrance between C and D streets, NW. Since access to the building is controlled, persons who wish to attend are requested to provide their name, affiliation, address, telephone, date of birth and social security no. by Monday, September 15. To provide attendance information, please contact the Office of the Legal adviser (L/PIL), Department of State, Suite 355 South Building, 2430 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037-2800, fax (202) 776-8482 or telephone (202) 776-8420, attention Rosalia Gonzales. For additional information or for documents requests, contact Harold Burman at the Office indicated above or Professor Amelia Boss at Temple University, (215) 204-8947, fax 204-1185, or at aboss@vm.temple.edu. Members of the public who cannot attend are welcome to comment in writing on this topic or the referenced documents, including any recommendations for possible U.S. positions to be put forward at international meetings on electronic signatures. Persons who wish more information on meetings on the proposed Electronic Transactions Act should contact the Chair, Professor Patricia Brumfield Fry of the University of North Dakota Law School at (701) 777-2223, fax (701) 777-2217, or by E-mail to pat.fry@thor.law.und.nodak.edu or contact the offices of the Uniform Law Commissioners at (312) 915-0195, fax 312-0187. Harold S. Burman, Advisory Committee Executive Director. [FR Doc. 97-23219 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-07-M ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: September 2, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 169)] [Notices] [Page 46393-46394] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02se97-116] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice No. 2598] Ad Hoc on the 1998 International Telecommunication Union Policy Forum; International Telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC) Meeting Notice The Department of State announces the establishment, under its International Telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC), of an Ad Hoc Group to prepare for the Second World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF). The first three meetings will be held at the Department of State, 2201 ``C'' Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., as follows: [[Page 46394]] Wednesday, September 17, 1997, 1:30-4:00 p.m., Room 1107 Wednesday, September 24, 1997, 1:30-4:00 p.m., Room 1408 Wednesday, October 8, 1997, 1:30-4:00 p.m., Room 1207 The purpose of ITAC is to advise the Department on policy, technical and operational matters and to provide strategic planning recommendations, with respect to international telecommunications and information issues. To assist in preparations for certain meetings of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Department establishes ad hoc groups open to any and all government, industry or other interested participants in accordance with the ITAC advisory committee charter. The purpose and agenda of this ITAC Ad Hoc Group is to develop and recommend positions and, as appropriate, written contributions for submission by the United States in connection with the 1998 WTPF, as described below. Questions regarding the agenda or Ad Hoc activities in general may be directed to the chairman, Richard Shrum, State Department, at 202-647-0050; Fx: 202-647-7407, e-mail (uuencode):shrumre@ms6820wpoa.us-state.gov. The ITU will convene the second Policy Forum in Geneva, March 16- 18, 1998, in order to discuss and exchange views on the theme of trade in telecommunications services. The agenda will include: (a) the general implications for the ITU membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on trade in basic telecom services, with respect to telecom policies, regulations and regulatory structures, and the implications for developing countries, particularly with respect to financial strategies to promote network and service, development; (b) actions to assist ITU membership in adapting to changes in the telecom environment including analysis of the current situation and possible cooperative actions to facilitate transition; and (c) the evolution of the international telecom environment, particularly the current accounting and settlement system. Discussions at the WTPF shall be based on a report of the Secretary-General, incorporating contributions and comments of the ITU membership, which will serve as the sole working document of the Forum. Preparations for WTPF will include an informal group of experts convened by the Secretary-General to assist in developing the report, and a working group of representatives of the ITU-T and ITU-D Sectors and the ITU Secretariat to conduct case studies in developing countries. All participants may join in discussions, subject to instructions of the chair. In this regard, entry to the building is controlled. If you wish to attend, please send a fax to 202-647-7407 at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting, providing name, affiliation, date of birth and social security number, to arrange for pre-clearance. One of the following valid photo ID's is required for admittance: U.S. driver's license with picture, passport, Government ID (company ID's are not accepted). Enter through the ``C'' Street Main Lobby. Dated: August 26, 1997. John T. Gilsenan, Acting ITAC Executive Director. [FR Doc. 97-23165 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-45-M ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: September 2, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 169)] [Notices] [Page 46394] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02se97-117] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice No. 2599] Ad Hoc on the International Telecommunication Union Strategic Planning Working Group International Telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC); Meeting Notice The Department of State announces the establishment, under its International telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC), of an Ad Hoc Group to prepare for the ITU Strategic Planning Working Group. The first three meetings will be held at the Department of State, 2202 ``C'' Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., as follows: Wednesday, September 17, 1997, 9:30-12:00 noon, Room 1107 Wednesday, September 24, 1997, 9:30-12:00 noon, Room 1408 Wednesday, October 8, 1997, 9:30-12:00 noon, Room 1207 The purpose of ITAC is to advise the Department on policy, technical and operational matters and to provide strategic planning recommendations, with respect to international telecommunications and information issues. To assist in preparations for certain meetings of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Department establishes ad hoc groups open to any and all government, industry or other interested participants in accordance with the ITAC advisory committee charter. The purpose and agenda of this ITAC Ad Hoc Group is to develop and recommend positions and, as appropriate, written contributions for submission by the United States to the ITU Working Group described below. Questions regarding the agenda or Ad Hoc activities in general may be directed to the chairman, Richard C. Beaird, State Department, at 202-647-5832; Fx: 202-647-5957. The ITU Strategic Planning Working Group will prepare a draft strategic plan for the Union for 1999-2003, including linkages among overall policies, Sector priorities and programs, and financial factors for the period. The draft strategic plan will be considered at the May, 1998 session of Council, and ultimately at the upcoming Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis. ITU Member States and Sector Members are invited to submit comments on the draft plan by November 30. The ITU Working Group will convene a meeting in February 1998 in order to finalize the draft strategic plan. All participants may join in discussions, subject to instructions of the chair. In this regard, entry to the building is controlled. If you wish to attend, please send a fax to 202-647-5957 at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting, providing name, affiliation, date of birth and social security number, to arrange for pre-clearance. One of the following valid photo ID's is required for admittance: U.S. driver's license with picture, passport, Government ID (company ID's are not accepted). Enter through the ``C'' Street Main Lobby. Dated: August 26, 1997. John T. Gilsenan, Acting ITAC Executive Director. [FR Doc. 97-23166 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-45-M -----------------------------------------------------------------------