er standards. TIMI, which is responsible for standards on internetwork The IEEE is a USA based professional organisation. It was formed aspects of operations, administration, maintenance and provi- in 1963 by a merger of the American Institute of Electrical Engin- sioning of telecommunication networks. This covers network eers (formed in 1884) and the Institute of Radio Engineers. management aspects. The IEEE is an international organisation with over a third of a T1Q1, which is responsible for standards connected with per- million members in about a hundred and fifty countries. It has its formance parameters and service levels within the telecom- headquarters in New York and is administered by a governing body munications network. of 32 volunteers, elected by its voting members. TISI, which is responsible for standards dealing with architec- The aim of the IEEE is to advance the theory and practice of ture, signalling, and services, within the telecommunications engineering within the electronic and electrical disciplines, which network. It is, for example, responsible for ISDN services, includes information technology and telecommunications. It is architecture and signalling, and for common channel signall- structured into specialised divisions: Circuits and Devices; Indus- trial Applications; Communications Technology; Electromagnetic 22/26 Telecommunication standards and Radiation; Computer; Engineering and Human Environment; carriers and resell), manufacturers, and users. Foreign bodies can Power Engineering; Signals and Applications; Systems and Con- also be members. trol. The TTC acts as a focus for receipt of standards and for comments The IEEE is active in standards making, with about 700 standards on international standards. It maintains links with international published. Anyone with the right qualifications can join and take standard organisations and sets technical requirements for broad- part in the IEEE's standards activities, and well over a hundred casting and telecommunications. It is run by an 