or a recommendation or a family of recommendations. The document number is not changed during updates and different versions of the same document are identified with the date of release. There is a separate study group in ITU-T to handle telecom management. This study group is responsible for coming up with standards on the management of telecommunication services, networks, and equipment. It should be noted that TMN, the basic framework for telecom management that is discussed in previous chapters was a standard from ITU-T. Next generation network support and management is also an area ITU-T works on based on demands in current telecom management industry. There are special projects in telecom management that are also being prepared by focus groups in ITU-T. "Y.2401" is a recommendation on "principles for management of next gen- eration network" with multiple sections discussing different aspects of NGNM. For example: Y.2401-6: Describes management areas and objectives of NGNM Y.2401-9: Next generation network management architecture overview Y.2401-10: eTOM business process framework Y.2401-11: Management functional view The ITU-T participation requires paid membership. It also organizes a number of workshops and seminars on current trends and technologies to progress existing work areas and to explore new ones. Web site: www.itu.int Standardizing Bodies 7.3 TMF (TeleManagement Forum) As the name signifies this is an organization dedicated to the development of standards in telecom management. It was initially started by eight member com- panies (Amdahl, AT&T, British Telecom, Hewlett-Packard, Northern Telecom, Telecom Canada, STC, and Unisys) in 1988 with the name Network Management Forum. After 10 years in 1998, there was more than 250 members participating in the forum and the name of the forum was changed to TeleManagement Forum, reflecting that the scope of work was on telecom management and not just network management. The TMF has a set of technical programs that work on different aspects of tele- com man