Agenda
The workshop will begin with opening remarks from FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel and NSF Director Dr. Sethranan Panchanathan. A keynote address by Dr. Margaret Martonosi, Assistant Director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) at NSF will follow.
The agenda also includes two panel discussions with a diverse group of participants, including network operator and vendors, leading academics, federal agency personnel, and public interest group representatives. The first panel will consider the impact of AI on communications networks and technologies, exploring opportunities for spectrum management, traffic optimization, and network resiliency. The second panel will explore the tools provided and challenges created by AI from the perspective of consumer empowerment. The panelists will address a range of consumer concerns including robocalls and robotexts, digital equity and discrimination, and broadband transparency and affordability.
Details
The workshop will run from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm EDT and will be available via live feed on the FCC web page at www.fcc.gov/live. A recording will also be available after the event. Preregistration is encouraged and can be completed by submitting your name and company affiliation in an email to FCCAIworkshop@fcc.gov. The deadline to register is July 6, 2023.
Significance
This workshop indicates that the FCC has a nascent interest in AI use cases in the telecommunications sector, while also signaling its concerns about the consumer impacts of such technologies. While the FCC has not yet issued a Notice of Inquiry or Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the impact of AI on telecom networks and technologies, these types of workshops and outreach across industry and interest groups tend to be a precursor to regulatory activity. With this workshop, the FCC is joining the White House and other federal agencies such as National Telecommunications Information Administration and Department of Health and Human Services in investigating the opportunities and challenges associated with AI and exploring options for future regulation.
Authored by Mark Brennan, Katy Milner, and Ryan Thompson.
