RFC 3233 (rfc3233) - Page 2 of 4
Defining the IETF
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 3233 Defining the IETF February 2002
It is important to note that the IETF is not a corporation: it is an
unincorporated, freestanding organization. The IETF is partially
supported by the Internet Society (ISOC). ISOC is an international
non-profit organization incorporated in the US with thousands of
individual and corporate members throughout the world who pay
membership fees to join. The Internet Society provides many services
to the IETF, including insurance and some financial and logistical
support.
As described in BCP 11, Internet standardization is an organized
activity of the ISOC, with the ISOC Board of Trustees being
responsible for ratifying the procedures and rules of the Internet
standards process. However, the IETF is not a formal subset of ISOC;
for example, one does not have to join ISOC to be a member of the
IETF.
There is no board of directors for the IETF, no formally signed
bylaws, no treasurer, and so on. The structure of the IETF (its
leadership, its working groups, the definition of IETF membership,
and so on) are described in detail in BCP 11. Procedures for
choosing leadership are described in detail in BCP 10.
Thus, when RFCs say "the IETF", they are describing the group that
acts in accordance with BCP 9, BCP 10, and BCP 11.
3. Security Considerations
All IETF protocols must describe the security aspects of the
environment in which they will be used. Also, the IETF has a
Security Area which discusses the security aspects of IETF protocols.
However, descriptive documents such as this one do not affect the
security of the Internet.
Hoffman & Bradner Best Current Practice