U.S. Government and Emerging 

Technology Standardization –

Implications for NIST’s Roles
Issues of Interest

The US approach to 

standards development

NIST’s role in 

documentary standards

Trends in documentary 

standards development

How NIST is preparing 

and responding
Documents that provide for common 

and repeated used, rules, guidelines or 

characteristics for activities or their 

results

Developed through processes with 

specific process attributes, such as:

▪ Consensus

▪ Openness

▪ Balance

Documentary Standards
Pervasive and ubiquitous

Impact every aspect of modern life

Enable health and safety

Provide certainty in commerce

Help realize economies of scale

Essential for interoperability

Are the foundations for technological 

innovation

Why Standards Matter
The U.S. Approach to Standards

• Reflects US economic system and culture

• De-centralized and bottom-up, i.e. user-driven

• Private–sector, active government participation

• Stakeholder needs responsiveness

• User choice – organization and model

• Agile system for fit-for-purpose solutions

• US leadership in industry and technology for many decades

• Strong private-public partnerships

“How Many Standards In a Laptop (And Other Empirical 

Questions)” Brad Biddle, Andrew White and Sean Woods, 

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 

June 2010 

Over 251 standards and specifications:

112 developed by consortia

90 by consensus standards development 

organizations

49 by individual companies
NIST’s Role

1. Technical

• Knowledge transfer from NIST to 

large scale practice

• Enhance technical quality and 

effectiveness of resulting standards

• Identify market needs and trends

• Technology adviser to agencies

2. Policy

• Federal agency information 

exchange

• Coordination with the private sector

• Standards and conformity 

assessment resource e.g., WTO TBT 

Inquiry Point, USTR for trade 

negotiations, etc.

Courtesy: Sean Kelley/PML

NIST staff participation in documentary standards

400+ staff 

100+ standards organizations

1000+ unique standards activities
Global Trends and Changes

Role of non-traditional participants

New and alternate approaches

Early stage standardization

Innovation pace

First to market pressures • Most noticeable in emerging 

digital technologies space
Example of Leadership in Select 

Standardization Activities

China

8%

United States

68%

United Kingdom

5%

Japan

3%

South Korea

3%

Canada

6%

Germany

4%

India

2%

Australia

1%

IEEE Committees

China

40%

United States

5% United Kingdom

5%

Japan

11%

South Korea

19%

France

7%

United Arab 

Emirates

7%

Argentina

3%

Malaysia

3%

ITU-T Questions Under Study

China

27%

United States

United Kingdom 23%

4%

Japan

11%

South Korea

9%

Sweden

10%

France

6%

Germany

6%

The Netherlands

4%

3GPP Specifications Groups

SG13, SG 17, and SG20 in ITU-T Study Groups.

Retrieved April 9, 2019 from https://www.itu.int/en/ITUT/studygroups/2017-2020/Pages/default.aspx

RAN1, RAN 2, RAN4, SA1, SA2, SA3, and SA 6 in 3GPP Specifications 

Group Home. Retrieved April 9, 2019 from 

https://www.3gpp.org/specifications-groups/specifications-groups

Various search terms in IEEE Standards Association Find Projects. Retrieved between April 10, 2019 

and May 8, 2019 from https://standards.ieee.org/project/index.html

Leadership from Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity and Privacy, Learning Technology, 

Microprocessor, and Networking (LAN/MAN) in IEEE Standards Committees. Retrieved between 

April 10, 2019 and May 8, 2019 from https://www.computer.org/volunteering/boards-andcommittees/standards-activities/committees

Different models of standards development 

Range of leadership roles

Static data not trends
USG Trends and Changes

Executive and legislative branch interest

National security and economic security 

considerations

Ensuring technology standards consider 

and reflect US interests

Tight budgetary environment

Inability to commit to long term 

participation 

Leadership in standards for AI, 

Quantum, 5G, and other 

emerging digital technologies
NIST Responses

Changes 

presenting new 

opportunities and 

challenges

Stepped-up efforts 

to raise awareness 

among federal 

staff and 

leadership

Increased federal 

inter-agency 

engagement and 

information 

exchange

Enhancing 

standards and 

conformity 

assessment 

competence of 

federal staff

Facilitating greater 

engagement 

between US 

private-sector and 

federal agencies
Impacts and Considerations

Higher profile 

and 

understanding 

of NIST’s role 

and 

responsibilities

Increased 

expectations 

and interest in 

NIST 

engagement 

NIST asked to 

fill in gaps in 

standards 

development

Reprioritization 

of limited 

financial 

resources

Diversion of 

technical 

resources away 

from research, 

measurement 

and technology 

development

Risk of mission 

creep and 

impact on 

effectiveness
Takeaways

NIST is a valued and 

key player in the 

documentary 

standards ecosystem

Changes and trends 

in standards 

development reflect 

broader economic 

and geo-political 

changes

Greater awareness 

about the need for 

effective and strong 

US engagement in 

standards 

development

Increased 

expectations for NIST
Thanks