Think about some of the emails you have sent recently. If you sent one from your iPhone, the person you sent it to can still open it using an HP laptop, right? And even if you have different Internet service providers and use different browsers, you can both still see the message.
We are able to interconnect so seamlessly on the Internet in large part thanks to Internet standards. Internet standards allow us to communicate easily, across a wide variety of devices, providers, and systems in a way that makes sense for everyone.
What Is an Internet Standard?
Internet standards are voluntary rules that people (networks, Internet users, etc.) agree to use to make the Internet operate efficiently.
These standards include routing protocols, which help determine how data moves across networks, and other technical standards, which provide guidelines that enable usability and interoperability.
Internet standards work well because they’re voluntary, so no person or group is forced to use them. As technology rapidly evolves, if a standard isn’t relevant or helpful, the market simply doesn’t pick it up. But as long as there is a desire to interconnect, standards will be an important part of supporting this shared goal.
What Are Some Prominent Standard Setting Bodies?
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is an Internet standards body that engages a global community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers to develop open standards through open processes. The IETF shares Internet standards and information through the Request for Comments (RFC) document series.
RFCs are a major part of the standards process. They share standards and information, and allow all people to share their input. RFCs were created by Steve Crocker, an Internet Hall of Fame inductee and Postel Award winner.
The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) is a chartered committee of the IETF that provides direction for Internet development and growth. The IAB oversees IETF activities and the Internet standards process, handles standards appeals, and appoints the RFC editor.
The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) promotes research relevant to the evolution of the Internet and the development of Internet standards. It creates focused and long-term research groups that work on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture, and technology.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is a global community of member organizations, full-time staff, and public citizens who work together to develop open standards for the World Wide Web, which allows you to more easily use the Internet.
Specialized Standards Bodies and Projects are usually smaller groups that aim to create and implement standards that tackle specific problems. For example, the 3GPP aims to create a mobile broadband standard, and Identity Commons aims to create an open identity layer for the Internet.
What Would the Internet Look Like Without Standard Setters?
Without standard setters, frankly, the Internet would be a mess.
Standards support interconnectivity and interoperability, and without them, there would be a much higher risk of fragmentation. This means that your experience of the Internet would be vastly different depending on who you are, where you are, and what devices or services you use.
As it is, Internet standards are voluntary and developed from the bottom up, which enables flexibility and innovation. Without them, to make the Internet work, there would have to be some entity making rules and decisions about the Internet. This would make it harder to make changes and adapt to the ever-evolving Internet landscape.
Standards bodies also help preserve the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. When big players push for one way of doing things that benefits them, standards bodies bring in other voices. In other words, we need them!
How Do Standards Impact Our Daily Experience of the Internet?
When everything is working smoothly, it’s easy to miss just how many standards are at play every time you use the Internet. But whether we notice them or not, these standards can significantly shape our online experiences.
Internet standards help protect our online privacy and personal data. For example, the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypts information shared between a website and a browser. This can thwart hackers and secure sensitive information, like passwords and payment card numbers. Websites that use SSL will have “https” in their URL, rather than “http.”
Internet standards can also help make the Internet more inclusive of all people. The W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a widely recognized set of recommendations for making the Internet more accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG includes a variety of recommendations related to aspects like text size, spacing, contrast, audio descriptions, and more.
How Does the Internet Society Support Standard Setters?
We are proud to have been deeply involved with the standards community since our inception. In fact, when the Internet Society was first formed, one of our primary roles was to be the legal entity for the IETF!
We support the IETF through a variety of programs and funding. The IETF is one of our constituents, and the IAB, which is an IETF committee, is also an advisory body of the Internet Society, providing us with valuable technical advice.
We also support specialized standards projects. We are currently incubating the Open Fiber Data Standard (OFDS), which is an initiative to address where Internet fiber cables are laid, and we helped set up and grow the Mutually Agreed Upon Norms for Routing Security (MANRS), which aims to reduce common Internet routing threats.
We truly care about using the multistakeholder model to promote standards on the Internet.
The Bottom Line
There are thousands of people in the standards community who are working to keep the Internet running smoothly and to solve the next big technical problems we are sure to run into as the Internet continues to evolve.
Doing this work in a collaborative way, not just allowing but encouraging input, has enabled the Internet to become the best communications system that has ever existed.