Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: All of the above
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Internet is a global network connecting millions of devices and organisations. Unlike some systems, it is not controlled by a single government or company. Instead, various technical and community based organisations collaborate to develop standards and guide the evolution of the Internet. This question asks you which of the listed bodies are involved in governing or coordinating Internet standards and policies at a high level.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
ISOC (Internet Society) is a professional organisation that provides overall leadership and policy guidance for the open development of the Internet. The IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) is an open standards organisation that develops and promotes voluntary Internet standards, especially those related to TCP/IP and routing. The IAB (Internet Architecture Board) provides architectural oversight within the IETF framework and offers guidance on long term Internet design principles. Together, these groups contribute significantly to how the Internet functions and evolves. In exam style questions, they are often grouped together under the idea of governing or overseeing the Internet, so the correct answer is all of the above.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Descriptions of Internet governance in introductory networking texts highlight the roles of ISOC, IETF and IAB. ISOC is frequently described as providing organisational home and financial support for the IETF. The IETF is recognised as the main forum where engineers develop Internet standards documented as RFCs. The IAB is documented as an oversight committee for the IETF, focusing on long term architectural issues. None of these organisations individually claims sole control; instead, they work together with other bodies such as ICANN. For the purposes of this question, which lists only these three, grouping them together as all of the above is consistent with common teaching.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Students might mistakenly look for a single official sounding agency, similar to a government department, and overlook collaborative organisations. Others may know only the IETF and think of it as the sole standards body. In reality, Internet governance is distributed across multiple organisations. For exam purposes, when ISOC, IETF and IAB appear together as options with an all of the above choice, it is usually safe to select all of the above, remembering that Internet coordination is a shared responsibility.
Final Answer:
The technical standards and policies of the global Internet are coordinated by several bodies, including ISOC, IETF and IAB – so All of the above is correct.
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