Standards and Standards Bodies

Ofcom http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/ The Office of Communications: UK communications industry regulator since 2003. Inherited the duties of the five existing regulators it replaced: Broadcasting Standards Commission, Oftel, Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority, Radiocommunications Agency. Ofcom's statutory duties : Further the interests of consumers in relation to communications matters, ensure competition Ofcom’s specific duties fall into six areas: 1. Ensuring the optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum, 2. Ensuring that a wide range of electronic communications services - including high speed data services - is available throughout the UK, 3. Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio services of high quality and wide appeal, 4. Maintaining plurality in the provision of broadcasting, 5. Applying adequate protection for audiences against offensive or harmful material, 6. Applying adequate protection for audiences against unfairness or the infringement of privacy.

European Organisations ETSI: The European Telecommunications Standards Institute is a non-profit organization. http://www.etsi.com/WebSite/homepage.aspx Develops a wide range of standards and other technical documentation for world-wide standardization in telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology. CEPT http://www.cept.org/ The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications administrations CEPT created the ETSI (1988) to take charge of its telecommunication standardisation activities. 48 countries are members of CEPT. ETSI and CEPT represent Europe in the ISO.

US Standards Bodies FCC http://www.fcc.com/ An independent United States government agency, established by the Communications Act of 1934. Regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Coordinates telecommunications policy efforts with industry and other governmental agencies. Enforces the Communications Act. Regulates radio and television broadcast stations, as well as Multipoint Distribution (cable and satellite) and Instructional Television Fixed Services. Regulates the use of radio spectrum. Regulates telephone companies in their provision of telecommunications services to the public (corded/cordless telephones).

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology (1901) Non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. Its mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology. Conducts research that advances the nation's technology infrastructure and is needed by U.S. industry to improve products and services; Promotes performance excellence in manufacturing & service companies, educational institutions, and health care providers; Offers technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers; Accelerates the development of innovative technologies for broad national benefit by co-funding R&D partnerships with the private sector.

The American National Standards Institute ANSI Non-profit organization , coordinates U.S. standardization system. Enhances global competitiveness of U.S. business Enhances U.S. quality of life Promotes & facilitates voluntary consensus standards and conformity Provides a forum for over 270 standards developers in about 200 organizations in the private and public sectors. Promotes the use of U.S. standards internationally, Advocates U.S. policy and technical positions in international standards organizations, encourages the adoption of international standards as national standards where appropriate Represents the U.S. in the ISO and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC). The American National Standards Institute is a non-profit organization that coordinates the U.S. standardization system. Mission: to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. ANSI currently provides a forum for over 270 accredited standards developers representing approximately 200 distinct organizations in the private and public sectors. These groups work cooperatively to develop voluntary national consensus standards and American National Standards (ANS). ANSI promotes the use of U.S. standards internationally, advocates U.S. policy and technical positions in international and regional standards organizations, and encourages the adoption of international standards as national standards where they meet the needs of the user community. ANSI is the U.S. representative of two major international standards organizations; ISO and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC).

EIA/TIA (US) The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) promotes the development of U.S. high-tech industry; addresses security and survivability issues concerning the Internet. The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is a non-profit trade association involved in standards development for the communications and IT industry. TIA represents the communications sector of EIA. The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is a partnership of high-tech associations and companies. It promotes the development and competitiveness of U.S. high-tech industry through domestic & international policy efforts. Addresses security and survivability issues concerning the Internet. The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is a non-profit trade association involved in standards development for the communications and IT industry. Formed in April 1988, it facilitates the convergence of new communications networks while working for a competitive and innovative market environment

ISO – International Standards Organisation The world's largest developer of technical standards. Non-governmental organization made up of the national standards institutes of 147 countries, with HQ in Geneva, Switzerland To make the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner. Make trade between countries easier and fairer. Provide governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation. Aid in transferring technology to developing countries. Most significant contribution: OSI model.

ITU-T : The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector is one of the three Sectors of the ITU. Its mission is to ensure efficient and on-time production of high quality standards / recommendations covering all fields of telecommunications. Created on 1 March 1993, replacing the former International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) whose origins go back to 1865. The public and the private sectors cooperate within ITU-T to develop standards for the benefit of telecommunication users worldwide.

IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE-SA) is the leading developer of global industry standards in a broad-range of industries: Power and energy Information technology Telecommunications Transportation Medical and healthcare New and emerging technology (e.g. nanotechnology and information assurance)

IEEE 802.x Standards http://www.technicom.net/clanci/pdf/802overview.pdf Sponsor Exec. Committee IEEE LANs & MANs, overview and architecture…… 1 High Level interface HILI standard 2 Logical Link Control LLC 3 CSMA/CD Ethernet 4 Token Bus 5 Token Ring 6 Metropolitan Area Network MAN 7 Broadband BBTAG 8 Fibre Optics FOTAG

Integrated Services LAN 10 9 Integrated Services LAN 10 Standards for Interoperable LAN Security SILS 11 Wireless LANs 12 Demand Priority VGAnyLAN 14 Cable TV Broadband 15 Wireless PAN (Bluetooth) 16 BB Wireless Access 17 Resilient Packet Ring Group RPRG 18 Radio Regulatory TAG 19 Co-existence Advisory Group 20 Mobile Wireless Access Working Group

Internet Standards Bodies IETF, IESG IAB The Internet Engineering Task Force(IETF) is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual. The technical work of the IETF is done in its working groups (WG), in several areas (e.g., routing, transport, security, etc.). The working groups are grouped into areas, and managed by area directors, who are members of the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) which is part of IETF. Providing architectural oversight is the Internet Architecture Board, (IAB).

IAB The Internet Architecture Board is a committee of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Responsibilities: Architectural oversight of IETF activities, Internet Standards Process oversight and appeal, The management of publication of the Request For Comment (RFC) Series, The management of the IETF protocol parameter registry through IANA Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the central coordinator for the assignment of unique parameter values for Internet protocols. http://www.ietf.org/ http://www.iana.org/

IRTF/IRSG: The Internet Research Task Force is composed of a number of small research groups, including: Anti-Spam Group Security, Network management, NameSpace, Peer-to-Peer Routing Participation is by individual contributors, not organizations. The IRTF is managed by the IRTF chair in consultation with the Internet Research Steering Group is the "governing body" of the IRTF. The IRSG membership includes the IRTF chair, the chairs of the various research groups and possibly other individuals from the research community. The IRTF chair is appointed by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB),

ISOC: The Internet SOCiety is a professional membership society with more than 150 organization and 16,000 individual members in over 180 countries. Since 1992, ISOC has served as the international organization for global coordination and cooperation on the Internet, promoting and maintaining a broad spectrum of activities focused on the Internet's development, availability and associated technologies. ISOC addresses issues that confront the future of the Internet, and is the organization home for the groups responsible for Internet infrastructure standards, including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB).