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RE: [802SEC] Re: IEEE Standards and Certification




Tony,

Reading the questions in the survey, it seems similar to those surveys sent
out by political lobbying groups where the questions are slanted to get the
answers they want. The questions focus on establishing a value for the IEEE
label. Some 802 participants have said that if IEEE gets too restrictive
about the use of IEEE 802 naming to identify products, then producers will
move to other terms such as Ethernet. None of their questions ask whether a
restrictive policy in this area will reduce the value of IEEE 802 as an
identifier.

Also, what we have heard of IEEE's direction on trademarking is, it seems
foolish to answer some of the questions they have asked especially questions
2 through 5. I expect NCC is just asking the questions IEEE has given them
but it certainly isn't a balanced opinion survey and it worries me that IEEE
is going to use the results to justify their direction.

Regards,
Pat

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Jeffree [mailto:tony@jeffree.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 4:20 AM
To: Paul Nikolich
Cc: IEEE802
Subject: Re: [802SEC] Re: IEEE Standards and Certification



Paul -

It appears that NCC (here in Manchester, UK - I worked for them ~6 years 
ago) have been contracted by IEEE ISTO to conduct this study - basically, 
to sound out opinion on certification in relation to IEEE standards.  I had 
a conversation with Jane Pink at NCC this morning - amongst other things, I 
impressed on her that it would be a smart move for Chris Weston to follow 
up his email with a clear statement of what the relationship between NCC & 
IEEE ISTO is, and to make it clear that his words "On behalf of the 
IEEE..." were not meant to imply anything more than that.

I have given Jane Pink your Email address and phone numbers, and suggested 
she calls you to discuss the study.

Regards,
Tony

At 17:57 29/11/2001 -0500, Paul Nikolich wrote:

>SEC,
>
>Can anyone shed any light on the motives behind The NCC Group's
>certification objectives?  Is there any relationship of this activity to
any
>activities within the IEEE?
>
>--Paul
>
>
> > Chris,
> >
> > The questions you ask are not related to our function as "an active IEEE
> > Working Group Member".
> >
> > They are rather looking at whether the company that sponsors us is
>involved
> > in marketing products that are conforming to IEEE standards and whether
>the
> > sponsor uses the name of IEEE in their documentation.
> >
> > I am asking you to perform the acid test to the IEEE code of Ethics.
> > Especially the following:
> >
> > 2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible,
and
> > to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;
> >
> > 3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on
> > available data;
> >
> > Thank you very much!
> >
> > ---------------
> > Vic Hayes
> > Agere Systems Nederland B.V., formerly Lucent Technologies
> > Zadelstede 1-10
> > 3431 JZ  Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
> > Phone: +31 30 609 7528 (Time Zone UTC + 2)
> > FAX: +31 30 609 7498
> > e-mail: vichayes@agere.com
> > http://www.orinocowireless.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: chris weston [mailto:chris.weston@nccglobal.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 7:43 PM
> > To: stuart.kerry@philips.com; apetrick@icefyre.com; vichayes@agere.com;
> > bob@informed-technology.com; jfakat01@intersil.com;
> > duncan.kitchin@intel.com; christen@analogy.com; dlb@wash.inmet.com;
> > kenneth_bakalar@mentorg.com; giffordi@ieee.org; james.d.allen@kodak.com;
> > michael.d.mcinnis@boeing.com; bisdik@us.ibm.com; nada@nist.gov;
> > kevin.marquess@ieee.org; jimlans@mobilian.com; marconaeve@eaton.com;
> > bkraem01@intersil.com; alan@nabeth.cxo.dec.com; jack.cole@ieee.org;
> > merritt@mitre.org; kaufmanma@corona.navy.mil
> > Cc: chris.weston@nccglobal.com
> > Subject: IEEE Standards and Certification
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Sir/Madam,
> >
> > On behalf of The IEEE (and NCC Group in the UK) I am conducting a
> > Certification Study on IEEE Standards.
> >
> > As an IEEE Working Group Member the IEEE is very interested to hear your
> > thoughts on IEEE Standards and the potential for Certification. In the
>past
> > week I have spoken with many of the IEEE Working Group members.
> >
> > I have attempted to contact you by telephone this week, however I have
>been
> > unsuccessful.  Thus I have detailed a few short questions below which
you
> > can if you wish reply to. Upon completion I promise to relay all
>qualitative
> > results back to you in a month/six weeks time.
> >
> > I would be very appreciative if you could return this email with any
brief
> > answers you wish to give. I will attempt to contact you by telephone
again
> > before the deadline of Friday (am) of this week. Should you have any
> > questions regarding this email, or the authenticity of this study please
> > find my contact details and The NCC Group's URL listed below.
> >
> > Your quick response to this email would be most helpful.
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Chris Weston
> >
> >
> > 1. Which IEEE standards does your organisation/ you contribute to?
> >
> > 2. Does your organisation build products to these standards? which ones?
> >
> > 3. Does your organisation use the IEEE name in your marketing/technical
> > information about the product(s)?
> >
> > 4. Do you use the IEEE name in your technical information about the
> > product(s)?
> >
> > 5.  Does the use of the IEEE name in relation to your product(s) add
>value?
> >
> > 6. Does it concern you that some organisations may use the IEEE name in
> > relation to products that do not meet the requirements of the standard,
>thus
> > possibly devaluing your product(s)?
> >
> > 7. Do you believe that a certification program to provide some level of
> > testing and certification of products in the area you work in would be
of
> > value?
> >
> > 8. Would you support the production of a recognised test suite/ test
tool
>to
> > be used for the purposes of testing?
> >
> > 9. Would you accept the IEEE as a suitable organisation to be a
> > certification authority?
> >
> > 10. What output would you like to see from a certification program? e.g.
A
> > certificate? Use of a logo? A Test/Certification Report? Other?
> >
> >
> > Many thanks for your assistance, I look forward to passing the results
>back
> > to you.
> >
> > Kind Regards,
> >
> >
> > Chris Weston
> > Research Department
> > The NCC Group
> > Manchester Technology Centre
> > Manchester
> > M1 - 7ED
> > United Kingdom
> >
> > Direct: +00 (44) 161 - 242 - 2133
> > Main: +00 (44) 161 - 242 - 2200
> > www.nccglobal.com
> >
> >
> >
> >