The Internet is fundamentally based on the existence of open, non-proprietary standards.
They are key to allowing devices, services, and applications to work together across a wide and dispersed network of networks.
You can trace the origins of standards back to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The resulting protocols spawned the invention and development of a wealth new applications and protocols.
Today, one of the biggest indicators of the success of these standards is how they’re developed.
Some of the core groups behind the development of the standards are:
- The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF);
- The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) and;
- The Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
These organizations are all open, transparent, and rely on a bottom-up consensus-building process to develop standards.
They help make sure open standards are:
- Freely accessible specifications
- Unencumbered
- Open development
- Always evolving
The IETF also makes sure these standards are available for no charge and online, which makes their adoption easy.
How to take part
You can also have your say in the development of Internet Standards by joining the IETF. Its activities are open to anyone around the world. While the IETF conducts all of its official business online, there are three meetings per year you can join in person or virtually.
Your unique voice is critical to the continued development of open Internet Standards and joining the IETF is a key way to make sure you are heard.