The IRTF is managed by the IRTF Chair in consultation with the Internet Research Steering Group (IRSG). The IRSG membership includes the IRTF Chair, the chairs of the various Research Groups, and other individuals (“members at large”) from the research community selected by the IRTF Chair.

RFCs Relating to Organisation and Operation of the IRTF

RFC 2014

IRTF Research Group Guidelines and Procedures
This document describes the guidelines and procedures for formation and operation of IRTF Research Groups. It describes the relationship between IRTF participants, Research Groups, the IRSG, and the IAB. The basic duties of IRTF participants, including the IRTF Chair, Research Group Chairs and IRSG members are defined.

RFC 4440

IAB Thoughts on the Role of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)
This document is an IAB report on the role of the IRTF, both on its own and in relationship to the IETF. This document evolved from a discussion within the IAB as part of a process of appointing a new chair of the IRTF.

RFC 4844

The RFC Series and RFC Editor
This document describes the framework for the RFC Series and RFC Editor function. In particular, it defines the concept of RFC streams, and formalises the concept of the IRTF publication stream.

RFC 5742

IESG Procedures for Handling of Independent and IRTF Stream Submissions
This document describes the procedures used by the IESG for handling documents submitted for RFC publication from the Independent Submission and IRTF streams.

RFC 5743

Definition of an Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) Document Stream
This memo defines the publication stream for RFCs from the IRTF, the pre-publication review process, and the rules for submission and use of material.

RFC 6322

Datatracker States and Annotations for the IAB, IRTF, and Independent Submission Streams”
This document describes extending the IETF Datatracker to capture and display the progression of Internet-Drafts that are intended to be published as RFCs by the IAB, IRTF, or Independent Submissions Editor.

RFC 7418

An IRTF Primer for IETF Participants
This document provides a high-level description of things for Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) participants to consider when bringing proposals for new research groups (RGs) into the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). This document emphasizes differences in expectations between the two organizations.

RFC 7827

The Role of the IRTF Chair
This document briefly describes the role of the Chair of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF), discusses its duties, and outlines the skill set a candidate for the role should ideally have.

RFC 8179

Intellectual Property Rights in IETF Technology
The IRTF follows the IETF Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) disclosure rules. See also Section 3.2 of RFC 5743, and the webpage about IRTF IPR policy.

RFC 8729

The RFC Series and RFC Editor
This document describes the framework for an RFC Series and an RFC Editor function that incorporate the principles of organized community involvement and accountability that has become necessary as the Internet technical community has grown, thereby enabling the RFC Series to continue to fulfill its mandate. This document obsoletes RFC 4844.

Conduct, Diversity, and Inclusion

Anti-Harassment Policy

The IETF anti-harassment policy also applies to IRTF participants and IRTF research group meetings, open meetings, conferences, workshops, other events, mailing lists, and other online forums. The IRTF strives to create and maintain an environment in which people of many different backgrounds are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. Participants are expected to behave according to professional standards and demonstrate appropriate workplace behavior. See also RFC 7776 and RFC 8716.

Inclusive Language in IRTF Contributions

Research is at its most understandable and effective when it uses terminology that is clear, precise, and widely accessible to readers from varying backgrounds and cultures. The IRSG encourages all IRTF participants to follow the guidance on inclusive language in NIST.IR.8366 when making contributions to the IRTF.

Other Policies

Copyright infringement

How to send notification of alleged copyright infringement occurring in the irtf.org domain.

Cross Stream RFC Status Updates

IRTF policy regarding approval of cross stream RFC status updates.

Intellectual Property Rights

IRTF intellectual property rights (IPR) disclosure rules

IRTF Logo

Guidelines for use of the IRTF logo.

Note Well

Note Well slides, for research group meetings.

Privacy Policy

IRTF privacy policy and statement concerning personal data.

Public Archival of AUTH48 Communication

IRTF policy regarding public archival of Authors’ Final Review (“AUTH48”) communication prior to RFC publication.

Statement on Restricting Access

In cases where the advice from counsel is to restrict an individual from using IRTF systems and/or from participating in IRTF meetings, the IRTF Chair will follow the principles adopted by the IESG. Due to the potential impact on the standards process, due to shared infrastructure and joint meetings between IRTF and IETF, any such action by the IRTF Chair will only be taken in consultation with the IESG.