Cloud Computing

According to the U.S. Government's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) definition, "cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction." Cloud services offer significant cost savings to public and private implementers, along with, among other benefits, scalability, ease of implementation, and enhanced remote access to information.

TIA member companies are heavily invested in the proliferation of cloud services. Our members believe that through engagement in existing voluntary and consensus-based processes – which will naturally include detailed study to ensure that interoperability, portability and security (among other) concerns are fully addressed – the cloud goals of the U.S. Government (and others) can most effectively and resource-efficiently be realized.

We are dedicated to the success of the cloud. For example, TIA maintains widely-used standards such as TIA-942 (Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers) in its Engineering Committee TR-42 (Telecommunications Cabling Systems). The purpose of this Standard is to provide requirements and guidelines for the design and installation of a data center or computer room. It is intended for use by designers who need a comprehensive understanding of the data center design including the facility planning, the cabling system, and the network design. The standard enables the data center design to be considered early in the building development process, contributing to the architectural considerations, by providing information that cuts across the multidisciplinary design efforts; promoting cooperation in the design and construction phases.

Recent Cloud-Related Filings

• TIA files Comments with General Services Administration on Cloud Computing Brokers (9/21/12)
• TIA files Comments with the National Institute of Standards and Technology on its Draft Cloud Computing Roadmap (12/2/11)