VoIP Working Group Charter

[Ben Teitelbaum <>]

The VoIP WG charter (quoted below) clearly has some problems (noted
below in square brackets)...

  The Voice over IP (VoIP) Working Group is designed to promote VoIP
  deployment within the Internet2 community. [0] Utilizing the
  capabilities of the Abilene Network [1] the working group will
  coordinate projects that will increase the knowledge base,
  disseminate information and help to drive standards of VoIP [2]. The
  VoIP working group will cooperate with other Internet2 working
  groups that impact the VoIP process. These working groups include
  the Digital Video Working Group, the Quality of Service Working
  Group [3], the Measurement Working Group [4] and others. The Working
  Group will also work with Industry to represent the needs of the
  Research Community in the development of VoIP products and
  standards. The Working Group will disseminate information through
  white papers and best practices that will result from VoIP research
  projects [5]. The VoIP working group is open to all Internet2
  members [6].

[0] We are about more than just *promoting* VoIP.
[1] Missing comma; use of Abilene is not strictly required to
    coordinate valuable projects
[2] I don't think we can honestly point to any contributions we are
    making to the standards bodies.
[3] QoS is a SIG, not a Working Group 
[4] Measurement is a SIG, not a Working Group
[5] These are not the only ways we disseminate information. For
    example, workshops and the mailing list matter too.   
[6] "Internet2 members" are universities and corporations; we are
    actually open to individuals from any of those members.

I propose that on the web site, we replace the previous charter
(above) with new text (below).  

  The Internet2 Voice over IP (VoIP) Working Group is an umbrella for
  a variety projects, initiatives, and discussions that are engaging
  university and corporate technologists from across Internet2 to
  develop and deploy advanced IP voice communications.  The VoIP
  Working Group seeks to understand the implications of network
  convergence and to demonstrate how VoIP can improve the scalability,
  survivability, and functional richness of voice communications.

  While the VoIP working group is focused on bringing new value to
  voice-centric applications, it recognizes that much of the new
  technology and infrastructure will also enable new video, instant
  messaging, and integrated communications applications.
  Consequently, the VoIP working group is coordinating and cooperating
  with other groups active in the real-time communications space.

  The VoIP working group is open to all members of the Internet2
  community.

This is your time to object or propose alternatives!

-- ben