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Role of the IAB

The IAB is chartered both as a committee of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and as an advisory body of the Internet Society (ISOC). Its responsibilities include:

IESG Confirmation: The IAB confirms the IETF Chair and Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) Area Directors, from nominations provided by the IETF Nominating Committee.

Architectural Oversight: The IAB provides oversight of, and occasional commentary on, aspects of the architecture for the protocols and procedures used by the Internet. As part of its technical work and architectural oversight role, the IAB convenes workshops, initiates and executes technical work programs, and writes documents that lead to comprehensive technical analyses of matters of interest or provide guidance about protocol design and considerations to the community.

Standards Process Oversight and Appeal: The IAB provides oversight of the process used to create Internet Standards. The IAB serves as an appeal board for complaints of improper execution of the standards process through acting as an appeal body in respect of an IESG standards decision.

IANA: The IAB is responsible for administration of the assignment of IETF Protocol parameter values by the IETF Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). The IAB maintains an administrative support group in collaboration with IANA.

External Liaison: The IAB acts as representative of the interests of the IETF in liaison relationships with other organizations concerned with standards and other technical and organizational issues relevant to the world-wide Internet. The IAB Liaison Coordinators serve as contact point with the IAB for liaison management.

Advice to ISOC: The IAB acts as a source of advice and guidance to the Board of Trustees and Officers of the Internet Society (ISOC) concerning technical, architectural, procedural, and (where appropriate) policy matters pertaining to the Internet and its enabling technologies. The IAB maintains an administrative support group for policy coordination with ISOC.

IRTF Chair: The IAB selects a chair of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) for a renewable two year term.

Role of the IAB