Government Activity to Increase Benefits from the Global Standards System

Roger B. Marks, and Robert Hebner

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 10/3/2001)

In this paper, the authors review the factors influencing the evolution of the global standards system. The authors then discuss some of the approaches that governments have taken or are exploring in order to modify the system for the benefit of domestic and worldwide economic development. They use as an example an effort of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to encourage voluntary consensus standards for interoperable broadband wireless access systems. The authors conclude that in the U.S., government should play an active role in encouraging and accelerating voluntary consensus standardization, citing NIST's participation in the IEEE 802.16 Working Group as evidence that this role can constructively contribute to the economy and quality of life.