Executives are fond of observing that you can't manage something until you can measure it. Communications experts have another insight: you need to give a problem a name before you can get people to solve it.

Leveling the international playing field is an important function of government. When it comes to standards-related trade issues, winning on that field requires government help as well. H.R. 5116 can provide a first step in forging the kind of public-private partnership in standards matters that can keep America competitive.

For over 100 years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has fulfilled a vital role in supporting industry, science, public safety and more. In the standards arena, its mission has focused primarily on defining and enabling the measurement of weights and measures. A bill now in Congress would expand NIST's historical authorization to institutionalize the important role it is now ...

On March 23, testimony was heard on a bill to support the work of NIST, and to ask NIST to undertake a new role in support of Congress and the federal agencies.

Ever since Oracle announced it would acquire Sun Microsystems, ODF supporters have been wondering: what will Oracle do with OpenOffice?

In this chapter, the mysteries deepen as Frank Adversego tries to get to the bottom of the cyberattacks being launched against the Library of Congress.

To William Jennings Bryan, the gold standard was a cross upon which the monied classes would crucify the working man. But in times of economic turmoil, some yearn for a return to a standard you can see, touch, and even hide under your mattress. Really, though, it's just another case of "turtles all the way down."