The ultimate test for any technology is the acceptance by market forces as the demand for new services builds up. Various issues are as follows:

1. In the residential area, the data flow is asymmetric (primarily one way toward the customer). However, TV is expected to be followed by interactive video, Web browsing, and other needs. As the market grows up, the data flow would tend to become symmetric.

2. In the business areas, data flow is already near symmetric with emphasis more on file transfer, telecommuting, videoconferencing, and LAN access.

3. Initial costs for LMDS is estimated to be approximately $550 per customer, which is half that for MMDS and one-fourth that for a cable system.³⁷

Thus IEEE standards are highly regarded throughout the world because they are developed in an open process with rigorous procedures to ensure that all voices are heard and heard again until the quality of the output is fully accepted. IEEE has shown that with the support of dedicated teams, this process can lead quickly to superb results that are accepted immediately in the global marketplace. As a result of this quality control process, the name IEEE standard is zealously guarded.

IEEE 802 strongly objects to ISTO's format of the Broadband Wireless Internet Forum (BWIF) and the associated press release because, first, the press release implies an accredited standards process. The word standard appears 16 times (and IEEE 34 times) in the press release. This confusion cheapens the value of the highly regarded IEEE standards process. The confusion is enhanced by mentioning (3 times) the affiliation between ISTO and the IEEE standards association. Nowhere does the announcement state the difference between specification produced by this forum and an authentic IEEE standard.

Second, marketplace confusion has resulted because of the direct conflict with the scope of an IEEE-SA standards board approved project (802.16.3) that has been authorized to develop a broadband wireless access (BWA) standard according to accredited IEEE-SA rules and due process. The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access developing these standards is open to full public participation. To date, well over 400 individuals from well over 200 companies have participated in the working group. The ISTO announcement of a single, unified broadband wireless access industry standard is in direct conflict.

IEEE 802 makes the following requests:

1. The IEEE Executive Director should act to ensure that the ISTO dissociates itself from the BWIF prior to the BWIF's meeting.

2. The ISTO policies should be modified to avoid projects competitive with IEEE Standards projects unless requested by the IEEE standards sponsor.

3. The terms IEEE industry standard and IEEE-ISTO industry standard should be eliminated in favor of the term ISTO industry standard.

4. IEEE policy and procedures should clarify the difference between an ISTO-generated industry standard and an authentic IEEE standard with a statement such as ISTO is not accredited to write standards. It is separate from, and its actions do not affect programs in, the IEEE standards association. IEEE should issue a press release clarifying these issues with regard to the BWIF announcement.