[1066] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: IAB, FNC & Internet Society: Trying to Grasp the Relationship
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Phill Gross)
Wed Jul 24 08:26:16 1991
To: tmn!cook@uunet.uu.net
Cc: com-priv@psi.com, pgross@nis.ans.net
In-Reply-To: (Your message of Sat, 20 Jul 00 19:91:21 GMT.)
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 91 22:48:24 -0500
From: Phill Gross <pgross@nis.ans.net>
Is it correct that the IETF and IRTF "report" to the IAB, and that the IAB
"reports" to the FNC (Federal Networking Council)? Is it also correct
that the IAB, IRTF and IETF are about to find a new home in the Internet
Society? Would the word "report" to be appropriate under these new
circumstances?
Gordon,
The IETF and IRTF do indeed report to the IAB. However, the IAB does
not "report" to the FNC.
The IETF has responsibility for "evolutionary advances" to the TCP/IP
protocol architecture (ie, engineering). In addition, the IETF attempts
to contribute to certain operational aspects of the Internet. For example,
the IETF has efforts devoted to OSI Integration, User Services, and
Operational Requirements. The IRTF has responsibility for "revolutionary
advances" to the TCP/IP protocol architecture (ie, research). The IAB
has overall responsibility for the TCP/IP architecture, and therefore
has final approval on both IETF and IRTF activities.
The IAB was formed by DARPA in the early 80's. During that period, it
could be fairly said that the IAB "reported" to DARPA. However, by
the mid 80's, the IAB had become independent of DARPA, and therefore
does not now officially report to any govt agency. I think it is fair to
that that there has been close cooperation between the FNC and IAB (in fact,
the FNC funds a substantial portion of IETF secretariat at CNRI). However,
the IAB does not formally report to the FNC. In fact, as usage of the
TCP/IP protocols has reached beyond the US, the IAB has made strong
efforts in recent years to become more active in international arenas.
The IAB maintains a liaison with the Coordinating Committee for
Interncontinental Research Networking (CCIRN), and has added a European
member (with plans to add other non-US members).
The IAB has no "official" standing as the keeper of the TCP/IP
protocols, other than historical precedent. Although this is a
fairly strong precedent (counting the original developers of TCP and
IP, and the RFC editor among its members), it has long been a goal of
IAB to make itself a more open and representative body than its
current incarnation. Times are changing, and the IAB wishes to
evolve in ways that are appropriate with the times.
Therefore, there have been discussions in the IAB over the last year or
so that have led the creation of the Internet Society. The intention is
for the Internet Society to encompass at least the IAB and IETF. Frankly,
the exact nature of how the Internet Society will "encompass" IAB and
IETF is still being worked out. However, the intention is keep intact
the mechanisms that are working well, and to "evolve" any mechanisms
that have grown creaky with growth and age.
The Internet Society will be a legally incorporated professional
society. Information queries can be sent to ISOC@nri.reston.va.us.
Information about the Internet Society and an application form were
passed out at the INET '91 meeting in Copenhagen in June and at the
Gigabit Symposium last week in DC. This information is also available
online from the address above.
(Hmmm, before we overload CNRI's 56 Kb link to the Internet, why
don't you wait one day, and someone will send full info to this list.)
The Internet Socieity was reported in last month's Internet Monthly
Report. For those of you not now on the IMR list, I have included
that portion of the report below. (FYI, the IMR is now a completely
open mailing list. Anyone who wishes to receive the IMR can do so
by sending to westine@isi.edu)
For other information about the IAB and its processes, you might look at
RFC 1160 "The Internet Activities Board" (although that RFC is now over a
year old, and already getting a bit dated). You might also look at RFC 1200,
"IAB Official Protocols". This RFC describes the standardization process
and gives a list of current Internet standards.
Finally, there is an IETF meeting coming up in one week in Atlanta
(July 29th-August 2nd). There will be a presentation and discussion
on the Internet Society by Vint Cerf (IAB Chair) on Weds, July 31st.
For logistics information or for a copy of the preliminary IETF agenda,
send queries to ietf-rsvp@nri.reston.va.us.
(BTW, There are at least two other presentations at the Atlanta IETF that
might also be of interest to this list. As some of you may recall, there
was a presentation at the last IETF in March on the "NREN Architecture
Plans", by LBL and Los Alamos, as representatives of NSF. LBL and Los
Alamos will present a follow-up to that presentation on Weds, July 31st
in Atlanta.
Also, on Thursday Aug 1st, there will be a presentation by MERIT and ANS on
the NSFnet T3 Deployment. Some of the issues raised in this list over the
last few days about the recent T3 re-engineering should be addressed in
that presentation. I have it on good authority that the new T3 topology
will be unveiled.)
Hope this information is useful. I am sure all IAB members will be
willing to answer questions about the Internet Society. Plus, I will
be happy to answer any queries about the IETF and its upcoming meeting
in Atlanta.
Phill Gross
IETF Chair
>From the June Internet Monthly Report:
[...]
B. INTERNET SOCIETY
The phenomenal growth of the Internet, and particularly the
increasing vendor and commercial involvement, have presented new
challenges for the IAB and its task forces. The IAB continues to
explore policies and procedures to manage the Internet and its
evolution during this explosive growth, while maintaining as much
as possible of the traditions which have led to that success:
openness and cooperation within the Internet community.
The incorporation of the Internet Society as a non-profit
professional society will provide a legal framework for the IAB.
The fact that the IAB has no official standing has been both a
strength and a weakness for the Internet endeavor. The desire to
address the weakness without losing the strength is one motivation
for the creation of the Internet Society.
The IAB actively encouraged the formation of the Internet Society,
and hopes that the Internet community will give the society its
full support. Indeed, as soon as signup became possible, all IAB
members paid their dues and became Internet Society members! We
anticipate that the IAB will become an integral part of the
Internet Society, although the means by which this will be effected
are still under study.
Like the IETF, the Internet Society is designed to be primarily a
grass-roots organization, as free as possible from domination by
any single organization or subset of the Internet community. Thus,
votes will be given to members, not to organizations. Your
participation will make it a success.
[...]
