THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PROCESS – IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY

1. 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)

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. KEY FEDERAL LAWS GOVERNING STANDARDS IN USA • Public Law 104-113 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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