RFC 2026 - The Internet Standards Process -- Revision 3

• Status: Best Current Practice
• Published: October 1996
• Stream: IETF
• Obsoletes: RFC 1602, RFC 1871
• Errata: RFC 2026 Errata

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Document Information

• RFC Number: 2026
• Title: The Internet Standards Process -- Revision 3
• Authors: S. Bradner (Harvard University)
• Date: October 1996
• Category: Best Current Practice
• Obsoletes: RFC 1602, RFC 1871

Abstract

This memo documents the process used by the Internet community for the standardization of protocols and procedures. It defines the stages in the standardization process, the requirements for moving a document between stages and the types of documents used during this process. It also addresses the intellectual property rights and copyright issues associated with the standards process.

Status of This Memo

This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. Internet Standards
  • 1.2. The Internet Standards Process
  • 1.3. Organization of This Document
• 2. Internet Standards-Related Publications
  • 2.1. Requests for Comments (RFCs)
  • 2.2. Internet-Drafts
• 3. Internet Standard Specifications
  • 3.1. Technical Specification (TS)
  • 3.2. Applicability Statement (AS)
  • 3.3. Requirement Levels
• 4. The Internet Standards Track
  • 4.1. Standards Track Maturity Levels
    • 4.1.1. Proposed Standard
    • 4.1.2. Draft Standard
    • 4.1.3. Internet Standard
  • 4.2. Non-Standards Track Maturity Levels
    • 4.2.1. Experimental
    • 4.2.2. Informational
    • 4.2.3. Procedures for Experimental and Informational RFCs
    • 4.2.4. Historic
• 5. Best Current Practice (BCP) RFCs
  • 5.1. BCP Review Process
• 6. The Internet Standards Process
  • 6.1. Standards Actions
    • 6.1.1. Initiation of Action
    • 6.1.2. IESG Review and Approval
    • 6.1.3. Publication
  • 6.2. Advancing in the Standards Track
  • 6.3. Revising a Standard
  • 6.4. Retiring a Standard
  • 6.5. Conflict Resolution and Appeals
    • 6.5.1. Working Group Disputes
    • 6.5.2. Process Failures
    • 6.5.3. Questions of Applicable Procedure
    • 6.5.4. Appeals Procedure
• 7. External Standards and Specifications
  • 7.1. Use of External Specifications
    • 7.1.1. Incorporation of an Open Standard
    • 7.1.2. Incorporation of Other Specifications
    • 7.1.3. Assumption
• 8. Notices and Record Keeping
• 9. Varying the Process
  • 9.1. The Variance Procedure
  • 9.2. Exclusions
• 10. Intellectual Property Rights
  • 10.1. General Policy
  • 10.2. Confidentiality Obligations
  • 10.3. Rights and Permissions
    • 10.3.1. All Contributions
    • 10.3.2. Standards Track Documents
    • 10.3.3. Determination of Reasonable and Non-discriminatory Terms
  • 10.4. Notices
• 11. Acknowledgments
• 12. Security Considerations
• 13. References
• 14. Definitions of Terms
• 15. Author's Address

Appendices

• Appendix A: Glossary of Acronyms

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Related Resources

• Official RFC: RFC 2026
• DataTracker: RFC 2026 Info
• Errata: RFC Editor Errata