Media Contact: Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov Event Contact: Evan Swarztrauber, (202) 418-2261 evan.swarztrauber@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC TO CONVENE QUANTUM INTERNET FORUM December 15 Event Will Bring Together International Experts to Discuss the Next Frontier of Network Technology -- WASHINGTON, November 23, 2020—FCC Chairman Ajit Pai today announced that the Commission will host a Quantum Internet Forum on December 15, 2020, which will be webcast at www.fcc.gov/live. Unlike classical technologies, quantum information processing harnesses the unique quantum mechanical properties of superposition and entanglement to build systems that promise to revolutionize information processing. These include, for example, data communications that are guaranteed to be secure by the laws of physics and the ability to exponentially speed up certain types of computations by orders of magnitude as compared to classical computing. Applications of quantum information processing to secure communications, computing, and sensing are beginning to make the transition from basic science to early stage technology development and deployment. The United States government has also identified leadership in quantum as a national priority. For instance, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced on October 7 the launch of Quantum.gov, the official website of the National Quantum Coordination Office, and the release of the Quantum Frontiers Report, which identifies key areas for continued quantum information science research. All of these factors make it an opportune moment to gather leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss the state-of-the-art in quantum networking research and development. “Quantum technologies have the potential to shape the Internet of the future with respect to secure services and capabilities,” said Chairman Pai. “I’m glad the FCC will host experts from around the country for a stimulating conversation about this next frontier of network technology. And I look forward to hearing from academia, industry, and our government partners and learning more about quantum’s potential importance to communications networks. I expect this forum will foster greater understanding about the quantum Internet of the future and highlight ways the public and private sectors can cooperate to ensure American success in this area.” A preliminary agenda is below: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening Remarks and Keynote Address · Opening Remarks: Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Communications Commission · Remarks: FCC Commissioners · Keynote Address: David Awschalom, University of Chicago 10:35 AM – 11:30 AM: Panel 1: The Quantum Internet: Theory and Applications · Saikat Guha, University of Arizona · Paul G. Kwiat, University of Illinois · Marco Pistoia, JPMorgan Chase & Co. · Sanyogita Shamsunder, Verizon 11:35 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel 2: Challenges, Opportunities, and Roadmaps · Duncan Earl, Qubitekk · Dirk R. Englund, MIT · Thaddeus D. Ladd, HRL Laboratories, LLC · Kathy-Anne Soderberg, Air Force Research Lab 12:35 PM – 1:30 PM: Panel 3: Global Landscape, Funding, and Workforce Needs · Tatjana Curcic, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Science Office · Dominique M. Dagenais, National Science Foundation · Carol Hawk, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science Updates to the agenda and participants will be posted at: http://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2020/12/quantum-internet-forum ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).