Internet Architecture Board(IAB)

Oversees the development of the Internet technology standards, which are documented in the Request For Comments documents.

The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) was established by the Internet Society in June, 1992, at the INET92 conference in Kobe, Japan. Key responsibilities of the IAB are listed below:

Standards Oversight. Provide oversight of the Internet protocols, procedures, and standards.
RFC Management. Provide editorial management and publication of the Request For Comments documents.
IESG Selection. Appoint the members of the Internet Engineering Steering Group, and the chair of the Internet Engineering Task Force.
IANA Administration. Provide administration of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, which manages the various Internet numbers and parameters.
Two of the key IAB groups are the Internet Engineering Task Force, guided by the Internet Engineering Steering Group, and the Internet Research Task Force, guided by the Internet Research Steering Group.

The IAB is composed of 12 members nominated by the Internet Engineering Task Force, and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society. Each member serves for two years, and may serve more than one term. Interestingly, members of the IAB must serve as individuals, and not as representatives of a company, agency, or other organization.

The chair of the Internet Engineering Task Force is also a member of the IAB after approval by the other twelve members, and may vote on all official actions except approval of Internet Engineering Steering Group members.

The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) is a technical advisory group of the Internet Society. Its responsibilities include:
IESG Selection: The IAB appoints a new 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 organizations concerned with standards and other technical and organizational issues relevant to the world-wide Internet.

Advice to : 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.

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