Frequently Asked Questions about BITAG and the TWG.
What is the Technical Working Group (TWG)?
BITAG's Technical Working Group (or "TWG" for short) is where the core substantive technical work of BITAG takes place. Whenever BITAG takes up a technical issue, the issue is reviewed by the TWG, which will analyze the issue and then publish a report that describes the technical analysis. The TWG was formed with the following principles in mind: technically driven, open, balanced, transparent, efficient, independent and flexible.
What does the Technical Working Group (TWG) do?
The ultimate goal of BITAG is to get engineers and other technical experts together in "problem solving mode" and provide the best technical information and counsel to policymakers and the public – and stay focused on engineering, not politics. The role of BITAG is also to bring a broader-based sensitivity than that of the typical standards setting body. Often standards setting committees will develop technical proposals without being aware of the unintended consequences that may be felt by the rest of the Internet ecosystem, whereas BITAG can help to provide a broader viewpoint of how these technical issues affect the various stakeholders.
BITAG's stated mission is to bring together engineers and technical experts to develop consensus on broadband network management practices and related technical issues that can affect users' Internet experience – including the impact to and from applications, content, and devices. Specifically, this can include:
- Educating policymakers on technical issues;
- Addressing specific technical matters to help minimize related policy disputes;
- Serving as a sounding board for new ideas and network management practices;
- Identifying "best practices" of broadband providers and other entities;
- Interpreting and applying "safe harbor" practices,
- Issuing advisory opinions; and
- Otherwise providing technical guidance to affected industries and the public.
What is the output of the TWG?
BITAG's TWG fulfills its mission through analyzing technical issues and generating reports that detail that analysis. The reports will be published on our website, and freely available to policymakers and the public alike to use as they see fit.
How long does the TWG have to review a technical issue and publish a report?
The TWG generally operates under a 120-day "Shot Clock" (as described in the TWG Governance Manual), meaning that from the time that a committee is fully formed and all of the TWG Reps have joined it, there is 120-days in which to analyze the technical issue and generate a report. The period can be extended by up to 30-days for good cause, but this is the exception and not the rule.
What types of issues does the TWG analyze?
Network management and other technical issues that may affect users' experience on the Internet, including the impact to and from applications, content, and devices.
What are the qualifications of the TWG Representatives?
Each TWG Representative must demonstrate the requisite technical network management expertise through either education or experience.
For more information, please see Sec. 7.3 of BITAG's Bylaws and our list of current TWG Representatives.
How can I get involved in the TWG? [Who can join? What is the Join Process?]
Either you or your employing organization will need to submit an application, along with either your or the proposed TWG Representative's resume or CV. Please see our membership page for more information and our membership application.
How does the TWG receive its technical issues for review?
BITAG's Technical Working Group (TWG) can receive technical issues from a few different sources:
- Review Requests submitted by both BITAG Members and non-Members (accompanied by the appropriate filing fee, if applicable)
- Majority, weighted vote of the TWG itself
- Government agency referral as appropriate
What metric(s) does the Technical Working Group use to evaluate self-initiated topics?
The TWG uses a number of "filters" when deciding which technical topics may be appropriate to take up on its own initiative.
These filters can include:
- Germane — Does the issue fall within the mission of the Technical Working Group?
- Scope — Can the issue be boiled down to a discrete topic that can be reviewed and analyzed within the 120-day "shot clock"?
- Bridge the Gap — Could a BITAG Technical Working Group review help "bridge the gap" between existing technical discussions and policymakers?
- Assist Policymakers — Would a review by the Technical Working Group help prevent a complaint from being brought before policymakers or inform the technical debate on a likely complaint to be brought?
- What issue does the technical practice attempt to solve and how well does it achieve its objectives?
- Does the technical practice exhibit "externalities" (positive or negative) on other "layers", other applications, content or end users? If so, how does it impact each of these?
- Do others within the industry use a similar technical practice?
- Is there a way for the practice to be applied in a discriminatory or anticompetitive fashion?
- Is the technical topic being addressed in other forums?
- Consumer Impact — What concerns do users or consumers have?
- Differential Impact or Treatment — Does the practice involve differential impact or treatment? If yes, could it be construed as anticompetitive, discriminatory, or otherwise violate some other public policy objective?
What is a Review Request and how does someone file one?
A Review Request is where someone (either a Member or a non-Member) brings a network management or other technical issue to BITAG in order for the Technical Working Group (TWG) to analyze it and generate a report. The Review Request must outline the technical issue with sufficient clarity for the TWG to begin its analysis, and among other things be accompanied by the requisite filing fee.
For your convenience, please use the Technical Review Request Form.
Why is there a filing fee for a Review Request?
For each Review Request sent to BITAG there is a significant operational and administrative burden. BITAG asks those who submit requests to shoulder a small portion of that burden through payment of a filing fee. This fee is refundable if the Review Request is rejected. The filing fee schedule is:
| |
Industry Tier (revenue) |
Member |
Non-Member |
| |
Above $5B |
No Cost |
$30,000 |
| |
$1B to $5B |
No Cost |
$15,000 |
| |
$100M to $1B |
No Cost |
$13,500 |
| |
Under $100M |
No Cost |
$12,000 |
| |
Trade Assoc. Tier (budget) |
|
|
| |
Any Size |
$25,000 |
$30,000 |
| |
Comm. Rep. Tier (budget) |
|
|
| |
Any Size |
No Cost |
$5,000 |
| |
Individual Tier |
|
|
| |
Any Individual |
No Cost |
$5,000 |
Do I have to be affiliated with a company in order to be a Member?
No, individuals are welcome to join BITAG. Please note though that if you are already employed by an organization that either is already a member or will soon be a member, then you will be considered to be joining on behalf of that organization, and your Membership Dues and Member Category will be based on your employing organization's information.
Do I have to be a Participating Member?
No, you or your organization can be either a Participating Member or an Observing Member. Observing Members' dues are half that of Participating Members, but an Observing Member has significantly less rights than a Participating Member, and of course generally cannot participate in the generation of a BITAG Report.
How much are annual Membership Dues?
To be a Member of BITAG, an individual or organization must pay the annual membership dues. Dues are based upon the type of organization and size of revenues.
Industry Membership Dues Schedule
| |
Annual Revenue |
Participating Dues |
Observing Dues |
| |
Over $5 Billion |
$50,000 |
$25,000 |
| |
$1 Billion - $5 Billion |
$25,000 |
$12,500 |
| |
$100 Million - $1 Billion |
$20,000 |
$10,000 |
| |
Under $100 Million |
$10,000 |
$5,000 |
Community Representative Membership Dues Schedule
| |
Annual Budget |
Participating Dues |
Observing Dues |
| |
Over $3 Million |
$2,500 |
$1,250 |
| |
$1 Million to $3 Million |
$1,500 |
$750 |
| |
Under $1 Million |
$500 |
$250 |
| |
Individual |
$125 |
$65 |
Trade Association Membership Dues Schedule
| |
Annual Budget |
|
Observing Dues |
| |
Over $50 Million |
|
$30,000 |
| |
$25 Million - $50 Million |
|
$25,000 |
| |
$1 Million - $25 Million |
|
$20,000 |
| |
Under $1 Million |
|
$10,000 |
