Introduction Email

Dear ICDM members:

I am writing to solicit your help with an economic impact assessment of the Flat Panel Display Measurement Standard (FPDM) to which National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) staff made a significant contribution. Congress is putting increased pressure on government agencies to document the nature and impact of programs that support industry. Your response to this survey will help NIST and the flat panel display industry to determine the impact of its work in support of documentary standards and to plan new work supportive of industry and government.

The focus of the impact assessment will be retrospective, assessing the economic impact, to date, of FPDM 1.0 and FPDM 2.0. We in NIST’s Standards Services Division (SSD), and our colleagues in EEEL, request your participation in this study based on your knowledge of the FPDM standard development process and the utility of the FPDM to industry. We ask that you respond to the survey within two weeks.

NIST/SSD has contracted with TASC Inc., an independent consulting firm, to conduct the impact assessment. TASC has designed a survey to evaluate the economic impact of this program on a variety of users. The survey questions are focused on the costs (economic and technical) of alternative approaches to obtaining the information and associated measurement technology that the FPDM provides. We depend upon our industry and government partners to help both in assessing measurement and standards needs, and in evaluating the impact of the NIST response to that need.

In the published results of this study, information that you provide that is specific to your organization will not be presented explicitly, nor attributed to your organization, without your permission. Your name will not be shown. However, your organization's name will be acknowledged with appreciation in a list of survey participants.

This message serves as an introduction for Mr. David Leech (TASC Inc.) who will be gathering your responses to the attached survey questions via e-mail and analyzing the results. He will discuss the survey questions with you by phone if you desire. Mr. Leech can be reached at [email protected] or 410-346-6338.

Again, NIST/SSD would be most grateful for your participation in this study. If you cannot respond within two week please indicate when we can anticipate your response. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Mr. Gordon Gillerman,

Chief, Standards Services Division

National Institute of Standards and Technology