IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP) Continues Development of IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program

Expanded Call for Interested Test Labs and Industry Participation to Be Issued at 2012 International IEEE Symposium on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication


PISCATAWAY, NJ--(Marketwire - Sep 25, 2012) - The IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP), today announced a series of improvements and continued development of its IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program. The program replaces and will build upon the work of the IEEE 1588 Conformity Alliance, a program of ICAP. The changes are designed to increase industry and test lab participation for a conformity assessment initiative in support of the ITU-T G.8265.1 (IEEE 1588 Telecom Profile).

Under the new construct, the IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program will be composed of a Steering Committee and a Technical Committee of Experts. Membership fees will not be assessed to participate in either committee. Fees associated with the program will be aligned with the products submitted for certification.

ICAP, in its role as Certification Authority, will manage the program and all marketing activities. The Steering Committee and Technical Committee of Experts will assist ICAP during the ongoing development and launch of the program. Timing and availability of the Certification Program has been targeted within Q1 2013.

"The renewed IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program represents an opportunity to deliver an industry valued program to certify IEEE 1588 telecommunications implementations," commented John Eidson, Chairperson, IEEE 1588 Standards Working Group. "I continue to support ICAP in its efforts to position the IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program for wider industry support and success."

ICAP will establish the program policies, manage the day-to-day activities of the program, authorize test labs, establish and license a certification mark, issue the Certification of Compliance, and maintain the certified product registry. ICAP Authorized Test Labs will conduct the testing in accordance with a defined test plan and procedures.

"The IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (IACP) is committed to the adoption and implementation of an industry driven IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program," said Peter Lefkin, Director, ICAP. "The identified program enhancements are in direct response to suggestions from industry participants to meet the needs of the IEEE 1588 telecommunications community."

Call for Participants

ICAP will issue a public call for participants at the upcoming 2012 International IEEE Symposium on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication (ISPCS), September 26-28, 2012 in San Francisco, CA. The call for participants will extend invitations to Test Laboratories and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to participate in the IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program. Selected Test Laboratories will be required to undergo authorization to become an ICAP Authorized Test Laboratory. SME's will be selected to participate based on their IEEE 1588-industry knowledge and experience.

For further information about the IEEE 1588 Telecommunications Certification Program, contact Lloyd Green, ICAP Marketing Director via email at Lloyd.Green@ieee-isto.org.

About IEEE Conformity Assessment Program

The IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP) -- a joint initiative of the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) and IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO) -- provides programs and industry support that help bridge standards development activities with the conformity assessment activities that accelerate market acceptance and enablement of new products and technologies. The foundation of ICAP activities is based on industry best practices, internationally accepted quality systems and use of proven test tools. Fostering the market acceptance, adoption and implementation of standardized technologies; ICAP spans the spectrum of today's smart grid, information and communications technologies. To find out more about ICAP, visit http://www.ieee-isto.org/icap-program.