View source for Organization:Internet Research Task Force

{{Short description|Internet governance organization}}
{{Infobox organization
|name           = Internet Research<br />Task Force
|image          = Irtf-logo.svg
|image_border   = 
|size           = 225px
|caption        = 
|map            = 
|msize          = 
|mcaption       = 
|abbreviation   = IRTF
|motto          = 
|formation      = 
|extinction     = 
|type           = 
|status         = 
|purpose        = Promoting research into the evolution of the Internet.
|headquarters   = 
|location       = 
|coords         = 
|region_served  = Worldwide
|membership     = 
|language       = 
|leader_title   = IRTF Chair
|leader_name    = Colin Perkins
|main_organ     = 
|parent_organization = [[Internet Architecture Board]]
|affiliations   = 
|num_staff      = 
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|key_people     = 
|website        = [http://www.irtf.org/ irtf.org]
|remarks        =
}}

The '''Internet Research Task Force''' ('''IRTF''') is an organization, overseen by the [[Internet Architecture Board]], that focuses on longer-term research issues related to the Internet. A parallel organization, the [[Organization:Internet Engineering Task Force|Internet Engineering Task Force]] (IETF), focuses on the shorter term issues of engineering and standards making. 

The IRTF promotes research of importance to the evolution of the Internet by creating focused, long-term research groups working on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Acronyms and Terms|url=https://www.icann.org/en/icann-acronyms-and-terms/internet-research-task-force-en|access-date=2021-07-13|website=www.icann.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Internet Research Task Force|url=https://www.internetsociety.org/tag/internet-research-task-force/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Internet Society|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of Internet Research Task Force|url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/internet-research-task-force|access-date=2021-07-13|website=PCMAG|language=en}}</ref> Unlike the IETF, the task force does not set standards<ref>{{Cite IETF|rfc=4440|sectionname=Differences between IRTF and IETF Groups|autolink=yes|section=2.1|title=IAB Thoughts on the Role of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)}}</ref> and there is no explicit outcome expected of IRTF research groups.

== Organization ==

The IRTF is composed of a number of focused and long-term research groups. These groups work on topics related to Internet protocols, applications, architecture and technology. Research groups have the stable long-term membership needed to promote the development of research collaboration and teamwork in exploring research issues. Participation is by individual contributors, rather than by representatives of organizations. The [http://www.irtf.org/groups list of current groups] can be found on the IRTF's [http://www.irtf.org/ homepage].

== Operations ==

The IRTF is managed by the IRTF chair in consultation with the [[Organization:Internet Research Steering Group|Internet Research Steering Group]] (IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF chair, the chairs of the various Research Groups and other individuals (''members at large'') from the research community selected by the IRTF chair. The chair of the IRTF is appointed by the [[Internet Architecture Board]] (IAB) for a two-year term.

These individuals have chaired the IRTF:

* [[Biography:David D. Clark|David D. Clark]], 1989–1992
* [[Biography:Jon Postel|Jon Postel]], 1992–1995
* Abel Weinrib, 1995–1999
* Erik Huizer, 1999–2001
* [[Biography:Vern Paxson|Vern Paxson]], 2001–2005
* Aaron Falk, 2005–2011
* Lars Eggert, 2011–2017
* [[Biography:Allison Mankin|Allison Mankin]], 2017–2019
* Colin Perkins, 2019–Present

The IRTF chair is responsible for ensuring that research groups produce coherent, coordinated, architecturally consistent and timely output as a contribution to the overall evolution of the Internet architecture. In addition to the detailed tasks related to research groups outlined below, the IRTF chair may also from time to time arrange for topical workshops attended by the IRSG and perhaps other experts in the field.

The RFC Editor publishes documents from the IRTF and its research groups on the IRTF stream. The detailed IRTF research group guidelines and procedures are described in {{IETF RFC|2014|link=no}}. The procedures for publishing documents on the IRTF RFC stream are defined in {{IETF RFC|5743|link=no}}. The concept of RFC streams is defined in {{IETF RFC|4844|link=no}}.

===IRSG===
The IRTF is managed by the IRTF chair in consultation with the '''Internet Research Steering Group''' (IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF chair, the chairs of the various IRTF research groups and other individuals (''members at large'') from the research or IETF communities. IRSG members at large are chosen by the IRTF chair in consultation with the rest of the IRSG and on approval by the [[Internet Architecture Board]].

In addition to managing the research groups, the IRSG may from time to time hold topical workshops focusing on research areas of importance to the evolution of the Internet,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Doug |date=2023-02-02 |title=Is Starlink as Fast as Fiber? What the Tests Show |url=https://blinqblinq.com/is-starlink-as-fast-as-fiber/ |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=blinqblinq.com |language=en-US}}</ref> or more general workshops to, for example, discuss research priorities from an Internet perspective.

The IRSG also reviews and approves documents published as part of the IRTF document stream ({{IETF RFC|5743|link=no}}).

==See also==
*[[Internet studies]]
*IRTF (disambiguation)

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[http://www.irtf.org/ Internet Research Task Force]
*{{IETF RFC|2014|link=no}} ([https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp8 BCP 8]) describes more fully the guidelines and procedures of the IRTF Research Groups.
*[https://netspeed.cc/ Internet Speed Test]

[[Category:Internet governance organizations]]
[[Category:Computer network organizations]]
[[Category:Internet Standard organizations]]

{{Sourceattribution|Internet Research Task Force}}