ISOC -- 27 April 1998 -- IETF-Announce -------------------------------------- IETF Wins Norbert Wiener Award For immediate release Contacts: Marsha Woodbury Steve Coya Martin Burack Chair, CPSR IETF Exec Dir ISOC Exec Dir 703-620-8990 703-648-9888 Internet Engineering Task Force Wins Norbert Wiener Award April 27, 1998 The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has been chosen to receive the prestigious Norbert Wiener Award for its tremendously positive role in the evolution of the Internet. The award, announced today by Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), annually honors an outstanding leader for personal dedication to increasing the public awareness of the social and political consequences of the uses of technology. This marks only the second time in the 12 year history of CPSR's highest honor that it is being given to an organization rather than to an individual. "We have chosen to recognize the IETF particularly for the extremely open and democratic process with which it has effected the evolution of the Internet," said CPSR President Aki Namioka. "CPSR believes that such open processes are both extremely important and seriously threatened, and have accordingly made Internet governance the focus of our 1998 program year." In looking at the issues related to Internet governance, CPSR reviewed the historically important and ongoing role played by the IETF, and concluded that giving it the Wiener award is particularly appropriate. "The IETF is gratified to be considered in this light," said IETF Chair Fred Baker. "We conduct ourselves the way we do because it works for us and facilitates Internet enhancements based upon widespread support from around the world. To our way of thinking, open democratic dialog is the only practical way to make sure that changing needs in the Internet are always in view. The one certainty about the Internet is that it will continue to change. The IETF's mission is to see that change results in progress." The Norbert Wiener Award was established in 1987 by CPSR in memory of the originator of the field of cybernetics, whose pioneering work was one of the pillars on which computer technology was created. Norbert Wiener was among the first to examine the social and political consequences of computing technology. He devoted much of his energy to writing articles and books that would make the technology understandable to a wide audience. His books, The Human Use of Human Beings and God and Golem, Inc., were among the earliest works that opened a public discussion of computers and what they could do. He was especially concerned that there not be a mystification of the possibilities for computers, fed by unrealistic optimism. CPSR http://www.cpsr.org/was founded in 1981 by computer professionals in the Silicon Valley concerned about the use of computers in nuclear weapons systems. CPSR has grown into a national public interest alliance of computer scientists, information technology professionals, and others concerned about the critical choices facing society in the applications of computer related technology. CPSR has 22 Chapters throughout the United States and is based in Palo Alto, CA. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) http://www.ietf.org/ is the principal body engaged in the development of new Internet standard specifications. It is a large open international community of individuals who make technical and other contributions to the evolution and smooth operation of the Internet. There is no formal membership in the IETF. It is open to any interested person. Anyone may register for and attend any meeting. The IETF is divided into eight functional areas: Applications, Internet, IP: Next Generation, Network Management, Operational Requirements, Routing, Security, Transport and User Services. Each area has one or two area directors. Each area has several working groups, which is where the actual technical work of the IETF is done. Working groups operate under a charter to achieve a certain goal. That goal may be the creation of an Informational document, the creation of a protocol specification, or the resolution of problems in the Internet. Many working groups disband once they have achieved their goal, so the number and scope of working groups varies at any point in time. Much of the work is handled via mailing lists. The IETF holds meetings three times per year. The Internet Society (ISOC) http://www.isoc.org/ is a non-profit, non-governmental international organization providing leadership in the management of Internet related standards, educational, and policy development issues. It is the organizational home for the IETF. ISOC's more than 6,000 individual and 120 organizational members around the world make up a veritable who's who of the Internet. Its INET conferences are considered the summit of the Internet, where the industry's movers and shakers discuss the future of the Internet. ------------------- From: Martin Burack