The charter of the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), which operates within the US government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is outlined in this position paper. The goal of the ITL is to develop generic infrastructural technology such as tests and measurement methods, reference data, proof-of-concept implementations, and technical analyses that will help improve the quality of information technology standards early in the development cycle.

Individuals and organizations facing the information technology standards issue should find the ITL and NIST to be good sources of information. ITL has established email and Web addresses as a means to solicit contacts and ideas.