On behalf of Sid Karin, director of the National Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure (NPACI) and Larry Smarr, director of the National Computational Science Alliance (Alliance), I cordially invite you to participate in an invitation-only workshop on March 4-5, 1999 in San Diego, California, entitled, "Future Scenarios for NSF Networking Research and Associated Infrastructure Support - PACI."

The workshop will engage recognized experts in a discussion of the most critical technologies and infrastructure elements required to support high performance networks and distributed applications into the next century. Particular attention will be paid to requirements for effective data communications between R&E institutions engaged in the PACI program. This workshop is one in a series of meetings designed to provide input to the National Science Foundation (NSF) concerning programmatic priorities following termination of the vBNS award in the year 2000. NPACI and the
Alliance will host this meeting of PACI program partners and leaders to discuss future scenarios for NSF networking research and infrastructure support needed for the continued network development within the PACI program. NSF wants to hear from the research community before formulating its plans; this workshop is intended to give the community an appropriate forum at which to express its views.

The two-day meeting is planned for March 4-5, 1999 in San Diego, and will be co-chaired by Dr. Karin and Dr. Smarr. This effort will generate the basis of a final report to the NSF that will include recommendations on post-vBNS alternatives.

The vBNS network program has been the centerpiece of the NSF advancednetworking infrastructure program since 1995. This program, together with its companion "connections" program for universities, has been credited with the early implementation, testing, and improvement of significanttechnologies for high-performance communications. It has supported the development of a family of new applications for research in science and engineering, and currently serves as a core network of important R&D collaborations, including NGI, PACI, and Internet2.

The five-year award for the vBNS program will expire in April 2000. Both external and internal review panels have concluded that continued NSF investment in advanced networking is a crucial to maintaining our strength in R&D for advanced network technologies as well as for the development of novel applications in a variety of sciences and other disciplines. At the same time, the entire world of networking--technologies, business models, stakeholders, industrial partners, and public and international interests--has advanced far beyond the original vision for the vBNS. Accordingly, NSF is seeking the advice of leading experts and stakeholders on its best approach to further advancing the field.

A list of scenario-like questions is included at the end of this note. We are asking that each participant provide short essay answer responses to each of these questions by February 26, 1999. These responses will assist in developing discussions of alternative futures and framing discussions at the meeting.

It is important that we hear from you asap as to your interest and ability to attend on March 3-4, 1999. Please contact Nancy Jensen at jensenn@sdsc.edu, 619.534.5039 to rsvp. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Sincerely,

Tracie Monk
UCSD/SDSC