Standards Today A Journal of News, Ideas and Analysis
March – April 2010Vol IX No 2 Closing The "Standards Sophistication Gap" EDITOR'S NOTE: Giving it a Name Executives are fond of observing that you can't manage something until you can measure it. Communications experts have another insight: you need to give a problem a name before you can get people to solve it. Download PDF EDITORIAL: H.R. 5116: It's Time to Close the "Standards Sophistication Gap" Leveling the international playing field is an important function of government. When it comes to standards-related trade issues, winning on that field requires government help as well. H.R. 5116 can provide a first step in forging the kind of public-private partnership in standards matters that can keep America competitive. Download PDF FEATURE ARTICLE: Expanding the Role NIST: Reconnecting Government to Standards Development For over 100 years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has fulfilled a vital role in supporting industry, science, public safety and more. In the standards arena, its mission has focused primarily on defining and enabling the measurement of weights and measures. A bill now in Congress would expand NIST's historical authorization to institutionalize the important role it is now playing addressing complex, cross-sectoral, standards-dependent challenges such as the SmartGrid. Download PDF POLICY: Testimony Before the House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation On March 23, testimony was heard on a bill to support the work of NIST, and to ask NIST to undertake a new role in support of Congress and the federal agencies. Download PDF STANDARDS BLOG: Oracle's ODF Pricing: What's Up With That? Ever since Oracle announced it would acquire Sun Microsystems, ODF supporters have been wondering: what will Oracle do with OpenOffice? Download PDF THE ALEXANDRIA PROJECT: Chapter 2: The Plot Thickens In this chapter, the mysteries deepen as Frank Adversego tries to get to the bottom of the cyberattacks being launched against the Library of Congress. Download PDF CONSIDER THIS: How Now, Gold Bug? To William Jennings Bryan, the gold standard was a cross upon which the monied classes would crucify the working man. But in times of economic turmoil, some yearn for a return to a standard you can see, touch, and even hide under your mattress. Really, though, it's just another case of "turtles all the way down." Download PDF IMPORTANT NOTICES TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM OUR SUBSCRIPTION LIST: Please reply to this e-mail with the word REMOVE in the subject line. ADVERTISING/SOLICITATION: This email may constitute "advertising" or "solicitation" under applicable laws (including the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and rules regulating attorney conduct). This email does not constitute the rendering of legal advice by Gesmer Updegrove LLP or its attorneys. GENERAL INFORMATION: The Consortium Standards Bulletin is a source of news, ideas and analysis relevant to those that develop and use standards. For the latest standards news, updated on a daily basis, use the RSS feed at, or bookmark: http://www.consortiuminfo.org/news/ For more information about ConsortiumInfo.org, click http://www.consortiuminfo.org/presscenter/ ConsortiumInfo.org is sponsored by Gesmer Updegrove LLP. Please access the GU Web site at http://www.gesmer.com/practice_areas/consortium.php to learn about the firm's consortium and standards practice. TO RECEIVE FUTURE ISSUES OF THIS FREE JOURNAL: Please register at: http://www.consortiuminfo.org/subscribe/, or send an email to: [email protected] with the word REGISTER in the subject line. Gesmer Updegrove LLP 40 Broad Street Boston, MA 02109 ph: 617-350-6800 fax: 617-350-6878 http://www.gesmer.com Copyright 2010 Andrew Updegrove. All rights reserved.
