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| The White House Sends an Invitation: PCAST Meeting Aug. 6 and 7 |
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Friday, July 31 2009 @ 12:24 PM EDT
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I got a Media and Stakeholder Advisory from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, that there will be a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on Thursday, August 6 and Friday, August 7 from 10 AM to 6 PM in Washington, DC.:PCAST will hold its inaugural meeting on August 6-7, 2009. During this meeting, PCAST will discuss possible studies it might undertake.
If you are interested in either observing the PCAST meeting, or making a comment (5 minutes or less) to PCAST at its meeting, please email pcast@ostp.gov. If attending the meeting, please indicate if you are planning to attend August 6, August 7, or both days. You are welcome to send written comments to PCAST at any time.
PCAST is a group of scientists and engineers who advise the President and the Office of the President, providing policy recommendations. The purpose of the meeting is to set priorities for the coming year.
I know many of you are stakeholders, CEOs and executives of companies and leaders and contributors to software projects, but you don't have to be: the general public can contribute also. I'd so dearly love to go and speak about FOSS, but I don't feel it would be wise, due to the death threat situation, but you can go and represent yourself. And it will be streamed. There is even an opportunity to send written comments at any time. I'll give you the details in a moment, but if you've ever complained that the government is clueless about tech and FOSS, this is your opportunity to contribute in a positive way. The fact that Groklaw was sent the notice is, to me, a sign that the White House is not clueless about tech or FOSS, by the way. And I noticed when I visited their web site that anyone can send written materials for them to consider also. Is this something Groklaw as a group would like to do? I'll leave it to you. If so, we could work right here, in public, as we did when we wrote a group letter to SCO. I believe this is what they call an educational moment.
To do a written letter, we'd need to come up with topics. To do that meaningfully, you'd need to carefully read everything on the site, then attend at least the streamed event, and then we can decide what topics we'd like to write about, and what we feel would be useful and effective to say.
But you are free to do the same thing as an individual or as a company or a project. Of course, you can't represent Groklaw. There are some directions on how to participate, should you wish to.
Here's the web site about the event, where the details on the agenda will be posted and where you go to watch the streamed event. Note that Friday is going to be crowded, so register quickly if you wish to go, no later than 3 PM August 5 in any case. It's first come, first served. Here's the agenda [PDF] or you can read it in the Federal Register [PDF]. Notice this part: There will be time allocated for the public to comment on the above agenda items in afternoon of August 6, 2009. This public comment period is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Members of the public wishing to reserve speaking time must contact Dr. Deborah D. Stine, PCAST Executive Director, at dstine at ostop.eop.gov, [PJ: phone and fax provided in PDF], at least five (5) business days in advance of the meeting.
Obviously, you can't meet that requirement, but they sent me the advisory after that was published, so while it's possible the public slots are filled, you can ask, but you need to do it immediately. The time is limited to 5-minute comments, and they've allotted 20 minutes total, which is why I'm thinking a written submission would be more practical and useful:Written comments are also welcome at any time before or following the meeting. Written comments received at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting will be made available to the members before their meeting. Written comments received after that point may not be reviewed by the members until after the meeting takes place.
You can read some of the reports already posted here. President Barack Obama said this about PCAST, as posted on the PCAST site: "This council represents leaders from many scientific disciplines who will bring a diversity of experience and views," President Barack Obama said. “I will charge PCAST with advising me about national strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific innovation."
I believe you folks have some ideas on that very topic. This is not, of course, a time to speak about marketing or pushing your company. This is about the science, the tech, and innovation. I believe some of you have important comments to contribute. So, what do you think?
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 12:32 PM EDT |
First of all, congratulations!
But, you mean you can't go to a Presidential Council meeting because of death
threats against you? What kind of country do you live in?
Regards
/Andreas[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: tiger99 on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 12:33 PM EDT |
| To assist PJ [ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: tiger99 on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 12:35 PM EDT |
| Please remember the clickies, and try not to put on-topic stuff in this thread. [ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: tiger99 on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 12:36 PM EDT |
It is a good idea, and very helpful to us all, to put the title of the relevant
Groklaw newspick in the title of your post.[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: MikeA on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 01:09 PM EDT |
Quote: “I will charge PCAST with advising me about national
strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific
innovation."
The first thing that strikes me is that the "culture of
scientific innovation" was built on the foundation of
sharing information in a very open and cooperative way. In
recent years however, this tradition has been stifled by a
culture of proprietary copyrights and secrecy.
In my opinion, any topic submitted should address this.
---
“'Unifying UNIX with Linux for Business' are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Caldera International, Inc."[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 01:19 PM EDT |
| D was for Darl :-) [ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 01:24 PM EDT |
At five minutes each, that's a grand total of six members of the public giving
their input.
So I'm guessing that the main point of the meetings is not to hear from the
public. That's not to say that we shouldn't give input. We should. But I'm
thinking that sending it electronically will be more useful than showing up in
person, sitting around all day, and finding out that "due to too many
people wishing to speak" we don't actually get to say anything at all.
MSS2[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 01:42 PM EDT |
I'd certainly like to see the White House reconsider what the proper exchange
is supposed to be and then take steps to bring that back into
balance.
For example, Copyright is supposed to be a limited sanctioned
monopoly in exchange for the work provided to the public. It's face has altered
to the point it can no longer be considered either limited or an
exchange.
"Life of the author + 25 years" can hardly be considered
limited within the lifetimes of the public that should be enjoying such
art.
Being able to not provide a full and complete copy of the work to
the USPTO so the USPTO can ensure the product is not lost in time and it does
make it's way into the public domain certainly avoids the requirement of the
exchange.
Patents hold the same exchange issue. They fail in that the
patents being granted do not properly describe the "invention". Patents also
pose a problem with regards the fact they weren't originally meant to be applied
broadly over any invention. My understanding is that they were meant to cover
the more exceptional inventions which is why "obviousness" is a
test.
Just part of my wishlist I'd like the White House to evaluate from
the perspective of Society rather than the perspective of the vested interest of
Business.
RAS[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: billyskank on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 02:22 PM EDT |
I sit here in total safety and anonymity reading Groklaw basically for
entertainment (if I'm honest), and no-one cares in the least who I am. I had no
idea what kind of stuff you have to put with, for our sake, and I feel most
indebted.
---
It's not the software that's free; it's you.[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: Eeyore on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 04:01 PM EDT |
I work for a company that deals with the Medicare (CMS) decision makers all the
time. And while there may be some inroads being made into other areas of the
federal government, this doesn't seem to be the case with CMS.
For instance, I was told just last week that a product could NOT be considered
because it is "open source" and CMS doesn't allow that.
I honestly don't know if that is right or wrong, but it feels right talking to
their staff.
Such a shame![ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: snakebitehurts on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 07:15 PM EDT |
PJ
Congrats! What an honor to get such an invitation!
I understand the concerns for your safety. Is there a possibility that they can
provide security for you?
As far as this meeting, is there any media reporter that has fought as hard as
you for open standards; and is more qualified to speak on this subject? An
argument could be made that you are the most credible and visible speaker on the
fight for open standards.
If you can't attend, I certainly hope you will make your voice heard through the
one of the other methods they listed.
Congrats again!
MikeD
[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 31 2009 @ 07:44 PM EDT |
With regard to strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific
innovation, what do you feel needs to be said...?
[ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: The Mad Hatter r on Saturday, August 01 2009 @ 01:53 AM EDT |
And I for one, think that the space shuttle fleet shouldn't be retired. In fact
I'd like to see new shuttles built, and the ISS expanded further.
---
Wayne
http://crankyoldnutcase.blogspot.com/
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, August 02 2009 @ 09:36 PM EDT |
banning gene and software patenting - as already shown, nothing good will
come of these.
abuse of copyright - it's a two-way
street
open-sourcing of technology developed to counter climate-change -
a global response doesn't require yet more global exploitation
... and
I'd also suggest you reply early and include a short-list of your favourite
beers.
Charles from Oz [ Reply to This | # ]
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