Standards 

Internet Standards Organisations

The following organisations are responsible for researching, developing, testing, and implementing the standards that make the Internet possible. These key organisations operate under the auspices of the Internet Society (ISOC).

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

The 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 IETF's technical work is performed by working groups, organised into major topic areas. Read more on the IETF web site...

The Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG)

The IESG is responsible for the technical management of IETF activities and the Internet standards process. As part of ISOC, it administers the process according to the rules and procedures which have been ratified by the ISOC Trustees. The IESG is directly responsible for the actions associated with entry into, and movement along, the Internet "standards track", including final approval of specifications as Internet Standards. Read more on the IESG web site...

Internet Architecture Board (IAB)

The IAB is a technical advisory group of the Internet Society. Its responsibilities include:

• IESG selection: The IAB appoints the IETF chair and all other IESG candidates, from a list provided by the IETF nominating committee.
• Architectural oversight: The IAB provides oversight of the architecture for the protocols and procedures used by the Internet.
• Standards process oversight and appeal: The IAB provides oversight of the process used to create Internet Standards. The IAB serves as an appeal board for complaints of improper execution of the standards process.
• RFC series and IANA: The IAB is responsible for editorial management and publication of the Request for Comments (RFC) document series, and for administration of the various Internet assigned numbers.
• External liaison: The IAB acts as representative of the interests of the Internet Society in liaison relationships with other organisations concerned with standards and other technical and organisational issues relevant to the Internet.
• Advice to ISOC: The IAB acts as a source of advice and guidance to the Board of Trustees and Officers of the Internet Society concerning technical, architectural, procedural, and (where appropriate) policy matters pertaining to the Internet and its enabling technologies.

Read more the IAB web site...

Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)

IRTF Research Groups work on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology. The IRTF is managed by the IRTF Chair, in consultation with the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG). In addition to managing the Research Groups, the IRSG may from time to time hold topical workshops focusing on research areas of importance to the evolution of the Internet, or more general workshops to, for example, discuss research priorities from an Internet perspective. Read more on the IRTF web site...

Publication of Internet Standards — Requests for Comments (RFCs)

The Internet Standards developed by the open processes of the IETF and related organisations are published in the Request For Comments (RFC) document series. Read more...