PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th St. SW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 00-338 Released: February 25, 2000 FCC RENEWS AND AMENDS CHARTER OF NETWORK RELIABILITY AND INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL The Federal Communications Commission has renewed and amended the charter of its advisory committee, the "Network Reliability and Interoperability Council" (the "Council"). Under the amended charter, the Council will evaluate, and report on, the reliability of public telecommunications network services in the United States, including the reliability of packet switched networks. The Council will make recommendations concerning technical standards that will insure spectral compatibility in wireline networks and facilitate the deployment of xDSL and associated technologies. The Council will also prepare recommendations concerning the development of spectrum management processes within the wireline network to facilitate competition among CLECs and ILECs that use different technologies while still maintaining network integrity. With respect to the year 2000 date rollover (Y2K), the Council will analyze the effectiveness of the work done prior to the date change and make recommendations on any future actions that should be taken. Finally, the Council will make recommendations with respect to such additional topics as the Commission may specify. Those topics may include requests for recommendations and technical advice on interoperability issues that may arise from convergence and digital packet networks, and how the Commission may best fulfill its responsibilities, particularly with respect to national defense and safety of life and property (including law enforcement) under the Communications Act. For further information contact Kent Nilsson at 202-418-0845 or TTY 202-418-2989.