IETF members may be interested in this opportunity to provide input to a National Academies study on the state of telecommunications R&D and possible responses. The Computer Science and Telecommunications Board's Committee on Telecommunications R&D, chaired by Robert W. Lucky, is seeking comments on telecommunications research in the United States, including how the character of telecom research has changed, how changes in telecom research might be measured/assessed, implications of these changes for the telecom industry, and possible mechanisms for strengthening U.S. telecom research. For more information on the study and how to submit comments, please see cstb.org/project_telecomrnd_solicitpapers.html Questions that responders might address include: * Is the U.S. marketplace adequately supporting telecom research--and how would we know? If not, what are the consequences of underinvestment for the U.S. telecom industry and competitiveness with nations that are making these investments? What indicators should be used to measure research (e.g., funding or research papers published)? * Who should pay for long-term research aimed at innovation 10 years out? To what extent are telecommunications research results appropriable and thus likely to be adequately supported by industry? * What can we learn from the experiences of other countries (e.g., EU framework or national programs)? Do other countries fare better because of either greater government support or because their research programs are better organized? How effective have they been historically, and how successful are they likely to be in their present form? * What can we learn from past experiences with institutions in related fields (e.g., Sematech and MCC)? How effective were these initiatives? How did different research strategies affect the outcome? How can government and industry best participate in these efforts? * Could a greater university role in telecommunications research be fostered? What sort of role might universities play in a telecom research initiative? Would enhanced university-industry ties strengthen research or improve research training? Is there an opportunity in the recent migration of researchers to universities from industrial labs? * What is the impact of the Internet and its applications on the appropriate definition of telecommunications, the needed research in telecommunications, the institutions performing research, etc? * How are changes in the industrial research environment changing (or should change) the role of academic research?