Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is one of the main technical bodies that coordinate efforts with the other 4 Supra-governmental organizations, making them 5, to achieve Internet Governance.
IETF, in description, is an international community of Network Designers, Operators, Vendors and Researchers, concerned with the development of the Internet Architecture and its Transport Protocols such as IP.
IETF does not have members. It relies on volunteers and uses 'rough consensus and running code' as its touchstone. The financial and legal framework for the activities of IETF are provided by The Internet Society (ISOC).
What's IETF's Focus?
Analysis proves that the details of IETF's operations have changed considerably as it has grown. But the same analysis points out that the basis mechanism, remains, publication of draft specification, review and independent testing by the participants, and republication.
Interoperability is the chief test of IETF's specifications becoming standards. Most of its specifications are focused on single protocols rather than tightly inter-locked systems, allowing them to be used in many different systems.
Did you know that IETF's standards are routinely re-used by bodies which create full-fledged architectures (e.g. 3GPP, IMS, etc)?
Few influenced people involved with the Internet claim that it is a good in and of itself. It is a powerful tool for solving social problems, just as it is a tool for making money, finding lost relatives, receiving medical advice, or, come to that, trading instructions for making bombs.
Esther Dyson, New perspective Quarterly, spring 1997
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