Which of the following is the primary international body for fostering cooperative standards for
telecommunications equipment and systems?

A.
ICANN

B.
IEEE

C.
NIST

D.
CCITT

Explanation:

CCITT is the primary international body for fostering cooperative standards for
telecommunications equipment and systems. It is now known as the ITU-T (for
Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunications Union). The
ITU-T mission is to ensure the efficient and timely production of standards covering all fields of
telecommunications on a worldwide basis, as well as defining tariff and accounting principles for
international telecommunication services.
Answer option A is incorrect. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a
non-profit organization that oversees the allocation of IP addresses, management of the DNS
infrastructure, protocol parameter assignment, and root server system management.
Answer option B is incorrect. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is a
society of technical professionals. It promotes the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences. IEEE develops communications and network standards, among
other activities. The organization publishes number of journals, has many local chapters, and
societies in specialized areas.
Answer option C is incorrect. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), known
between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), is a measurement standards
laboratory which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The
institute’s official mission is as follows:
To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science,
standards, and technology in ways that
enhance economic security and improve quality of life.
NIST had an operating budget for fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006-September 30, 2007) of about
$843.3 million. NIST’s 2009 budget was $992 million, but it also received $610 million as part of
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NIST employs about 2,900 scientists, engineers,
technicians, and support and administrative personnel. About 1,800 NIST associates (guest
researchers and engineers from American companies and foreign nations) complement the staff.
In addition, NIST partners with 1,400 manufacturing specialists and staff at nearly 350 affiliated
centers around the country.