Independent Submission Editor Model

Abstract

This document describes the function and responsibilities of the RFC Independent Submission Editor (ISE). The Independent Submission stream is one of the stream producers that create draft RFCs, with the ISE as its stream approver. The ISE is overall responsible for activities within the Independent Submission stream, working with draft editors and reviewers, and interacts with the RFC Production Center and Publisher, and the RFC Series Editor (RSE). The ISE is appointed by the IAB, and also interacts with the IETF Administrative Oversight Committee (IAOC).

Status of This Memo

This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is published for informational purposes.

This document is a product of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) and represents information that the IAB has deemed valuable to provide for permanent record. Documents approved for publication by the IAB are not a candidate for any level of Internet Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.

Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6548.

Copyright Notice

Copyright © 2012 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.

This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
   2.  Independent Submission Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
     2.1.  Qualifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
     2.2.  Responsibilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
   3.  Independent Submission Editorial Board  . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
   4.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
   5.  IAB Members at the Time of Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
   6.  Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
   7.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
     7.1.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
     7.2.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1. Introduction

The RFC Editor Model [RFC6635] defines a set of streams that produce draft RFCs, which are submitted for publication. This document defines the management function for the Independent Submission stream, specifically the role of Independent Submission Editor (ISE). This document is a derivative of [RFC5620], Section 3.2, and was separated out from [RFC6635].

This document obsoletes [RFC5620] in combination with [RFC6635].

2. Independent Submission Editor

The ISE is an individual who is responsible for the Independent Submission stream of RFCs, as defined by [RFC4844]. The Independent Submission stream and the ISE are not under the authority or direction of the RSE or the RFC Series Oversight Committee (RSOC) (see [RFC6635]). As noted below, the ISE is appointed by and is responsible directly to the IAB.

2.1. Qualifications

The ISE is a senior position for which the following qualifications are desired:

   1.  Technical competence, i.e., broad technical experience and
       perspective across a wide range of Internet technologies and
       applications, and also the ability to work effectively with
       portions of that spectrum in which they have no personal
       expertise.

2. Thorough familiarity with the RFC series.

3. An ability to define and constitute advisory and document review arrangements. If those arrangements include an Editorial Board similar to the current one or some equivalent arrangement, the ability to assess the technical competence of potential Editorial Board members (see Section 3).

4. Good standing in the technical community, in and beyond the IETF.

5. Demonstrated editorial skills, good command of the English language, and demonstrated history of being able to work effectively with technical documents and materials created by others.

6. The ability to work effectively in a multi-actor environment with divided authority and responsibility similar to that described in [RFC6635].

2.2. Responsibilities

The ISE is an individual who may have assistants and who is responsible for:

1. Maintaining technical quality of the Independent Submission stream.

2. Reviewing, approving, and processing Independent Submissions.

3. Forwarding draft RFCs in the Independent Submission stream to the RFC Production Center.

4. Defining and developing the scope of the Independent Submission stream as a part of the overall RFC Editor function [RFC6635].

5. Reviewing and approving RFC errata for Independent Submissions.

6. Coordinating work and conforming to general RFC Series policies as specified by the IAB and RSE.

7. Providing statistics and documentation as requested by the RSE and/or IAOC.

The ISE may choose to select individuals to participate in an Advisory Board for assistance in special topics as the ISE deems appropriate. Such an Advisory Board exists at the pleasure of the ISE, and its members serve at the pleasure of the ISE.

The individual with the listed qualifications is selected by the IAB after input has been collected from the community. An approach similar to the one used by the IAB to select an IAOC member every other year as described in [RFC4333] should be used.

While the ISE itself is considered a volunteer function, the IAB considers maintaining the Independent Submission stream part of the IAB's supported activities. Therefore, the IAOC should include these costs in the IASA budget.

3. Independent Submission Editorial Board

The ISE is supported by an Editorial Board for the review of Independent Submission stream documents. This board is known as the Independent Submission Editorial Board. This volunteer Editorial Board exists at the pleasure of the ISE, and its members serve at the pleasure of the ISE. The existence of this board is simply noted within this model, and additional discussion of such is considered out of scope of this document.

4. Security Considerations

This document has no specific security implications, however the same security considerations as those in [RFC4846] and [RFC4844] apply.

5. IAB Members at the Time of Approval

Bernard Aboba, Ross Callon, Alissa Cooper, Joel Halpern, Spencer Dawkins, Russ Housley, David Kessens, Olaf Kolkman, Danny McPherson, Jon Peterson, Andrei Robachevsky, Dave Thaler, Hannes Tschofenig.

6. Acknowledgements

Generous thanks to Joel Hapern for all his help with this document, and for all his work on [RFC6635]). Thanks also to the IAB members, whose comments and suggestions were both welcome and useful.

7. References

7.1. Normative References

   [RFC4846]  Klensin, J. and D. Thaler, "Independent Submissions to the
              RFC Editor", RFC 4846, July 2007.
   
   [RFC4844]  Daigle, L., Ed. and IAB, "The RFC Series and RFC Editor",
              RFC 4844, July 2007.

7.2. Informative References

   [RFC4333]  Huston, G. and B. Wijnen, "The IETF Administrative
              Oversight Committee (IAOC) Member Selection Guidelines and
              Process", BCP 113, RFC 4333, December 2005.
   
   [RFC5620]  Kolkman, O. and IAB, "RFC Editor Model (Version 1)",
              RFC 5620, August 2009.
   
   [RFC6635]  Kolkman, O., Ed., Halpern, J., Ed., and IAB, "RFC Editor
              Model (Version 2)", RFC 6635, June 2012.

Authors' Addresses

Nevil Brownlee (editor)
The University of Auckland

   EMail: n.brownlee@auckland.ac.nz
   
   Internet Architecture Board

EMail:

          iab@iab.org