THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PROCESS – IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY International Best Practices Workshop Orlando FL, Jan 27-28, 2005 Thomas J. McGean, P.E. Study Funded by TCRP J6 (48)

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS – TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED International Standards Orgs. & Treaties European/Asian Standards Orgs. & Agreements Engineering Society Role Federal Laws Governing Standards Role of National Institute of Standards & Technology US “National Standards Policy Document” Current US Transit Industry Participation

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS (non government) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), founded 1904, 60 nations, electrical and electronic standards, US participates thru US National Commission International Organization for Standardization (ISO), organized 1946, 148 nations, non electrical standards, US participates thru American National Standards Institute Though not official government activities, membership is national with each nation having one vote

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS (treaty) International Telecommunications Union (ITU), all nations belong, formed 1865 to deal with telegraph, now covers radio, TV, phone, now UN agency UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), formed 1947, Europe, Canada, US, works with IEC, ISO, ITU on e-Business standards & Intelligent Transport. Systems

INTERNATIONAL TRADE TREATIES IMPACTING STANDARDS General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) – formed World Trade Organization in 1994, 132 nations in WTO Annex 3 of WTO Agreement has “Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (Standards Code)” prohibits use of standards as barriers to free trade

EUROPEAN STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS/AGREEMENTS European Union Standards set by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI Groups parallel ISO, IEC and ITU respectively EU regulations give these standards regulatory status within the EU Dresden and Vienna Agreements facilitate transfer of EU standards to ISO/IEC standards

ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) APEC founded 1989, all Pacific bordering nations are members (US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Japan, China, etc.) APEC Transportation Group led by US, USDOT participates in meetings Transportation Group has made standards a priority Geography leads to no common membership between EU and APEC

ENGINEERING SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS International status of IEEE, ASME, ASTM etc. is somewhat unclear. All formed in US but admit members from all nations and have standards used all over the world BUT, not within aegis of IEC/ISO system One vote per person (organization), not one vote per nation Unclear whether World Trade Agreement limits international SDO status to IEC/ISO system.

KEY FEDERAL LAWS GOVERNING STANDARDS IN USA Public Law Standards should be used by government for regulatory purposes if feasible. Agencies should actively work with SDO’s Volunteer Protection Act “Good Samaritan” protection vs lawsuits for SDO volunteers TEA-21 ITS projects must conform to National ITS architecture & standards Sherman Act Standards can not restrain trade (criminal penalties apply) Nat. Coop Res & Prod Act Limits liability of SDO’s under Sherman Antitrust Act

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) Established in 1901 In 1988 charged to facilitate competitiveness of US industry Implements WTO provisions re standards and trade for the USA

NATIONAL STANDARDS POLICY FOR THE UNITED STATES Jointly created by ANSI and NIST & Published in August, 2000 Key Provisions: – Lack of participation in international standards will cause US to lose market share – Historic US principles should apply in the international arena (consensus, openness, balance, transparency, due process etc) – IEC/ISO, Engineering Societies, and Industry groups all are legitimate global SDOs – Cooperation/coordination is required for focus and to avoid overlap – Recent use of standards in US regulatory process should be promoted – Vienna/Dresden agreements & “1 Nation/1 Vote rule” should be revisited – US government should financially support standards process

CURRENT US PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT STANDARDS ISO TC 204 Intelligent Transportation ISO TC 22 Road Vehicles IEC TC9 Electrical Systems for Railways ASCE Automated People Mover Standards

ISO TC 204 WG8 International ITS Standards Effort Led by ITS America as Secretariat ITS Transit Standards Working Group Led by Alan Kiepper Major US Leadership Presence

ISO TC 22 Road Vehicles (including buses) ISO TC 31 Tyres, Rims, and Valves – Mentioned for completeness. Little transit industry concern with this area

IEC TC9 Electrical Rail Standards (Transit & Mainline RR) Led by EU Nations (France, Italy) US Involvement Historically Low, but has Increased – WG40 transit command & control – WG39 automated people movers APTA’s Lou Sanders now serves as US Technical Advisor for TC9

Automated People Mover Standards Effort led by standards committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers, an engineering society Committee has published 3 standards used worldwide for APM’s, is developing 4th IEC is also considering development of APM safety standards

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANINGFUL IEC/ISO PARTICIPATION Single Person must serve as US Lead and regularly attend meetings held worldwide Other experts must be available to attend meetings as needed This needs to include transit agency personnel This all costs money

CONCLUSIONS General International Standards Issues – Review of international standards process in light of new global economy Transit Industry Specific Standards Issues – US Industry presently participating mainly thru Traditional US Engineering Societies – Serious IEC/ISO participation requires major funding and industry commitment