Abstract

Standard committees worldwide are in the process of establishing standards for waveguide fibers. This paper will address the key issues currently facing three working groups: namely, Working Group I (SC46E) of IEC, Study Group XV of CCITT and Working Group P-6.6 of EIA (Electronic Industries Association, USA). The IEC and CCITT are international organizations. The rapid evolution of fiber technology and commercial activity, combined with the lack of extensive in-use performance data and experience, has made the task of setting meaningful standards a formidable challenge. Working group members are responding to the urgent need to establish a technical framework for the sale of commercial products, while at the same time attempting to encourage (or at least not inhibit) the development of improved or lower cost products.