The need for TPWG to be in partnership with industry was stressed. Bob Kahn shared that he left ARPA a number of years ago to try to organize the industrial sector towards collaborating on the NII before too many people knew what it was. No one knows for sure how to do this. However, Bob feels that the organizational mechanism embodied in XIWT has a fair chance for success. XIWT is governed by an Executive Committee that works on a consensus basis.
Firms participate either as primary voting members or as associates non voting industries.
There are a number of academia scientist participating in XIWT via the Science Council. Copies of the XIWT charter, the press announcement and the initial set of NII questions being addressed were provided. In addition, Bob spoke to topics which XIWT would and would not address. Strategic planning and resolving operational issues are within the purview of the XIWT Executive Committee which is composed of primary members and chaired by Bob Kahn. Bob announced that Chuck Brownstein has been recently appointed to a two year term as the XIWT Executive Director.