Xref: utzoo comp.std.misc:185 comp.periphs:2001
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!gatech!ncar!unmvax!aplcen!ginosko!uunet!nuchat!moray!siswat!buck
From: buck@siswat.UUCP (A. Lester Buck)
Newsgroups: comp.std.misc,comp.periphs
Subject: cheap source for ANSI/ISO standards documents
Keywords: ANSI ISO ECMA standards documents
Message-ID: <438@siswat.UUCP>
Date: 7 Aug 89 05:29:06 GMT
Organization: Photon Graphics,  Houston
Lines: 35

I have come across a cheap way to obtain copies of some ANSI/ISO standards
and I thought I should spread the word to people on a budget.  I would urge
everyone not to abuse this source, since a flood of requests could easily
kill this for everyone.

The European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) reprints quite a few
of the ANSI/ISO standards as ECMA standards.  ECMA will send you a copy of
any of their standards at no charge (i.e., free).  For example, the CD-ROM
volume and file structure standard, ISO 9660, costs about $50 from ANSI.
The equivalent ECMA standard, ECMA-119, is available at no charge on
request.  I think this duplication stems from the use of the ISO "fast
track" standardization process, whereby, if some recognized standards body
publishes a proposed standard, it can be approved by ISO in much less time
than if ISO itself starts from scratch with the regular track.  Lately, ECMA
has been publishing various fast track submissions to get the ball rolling,
waiting for the actual standard to be published, possibly with minor
revisions, and then republishing an updated edition to keep the two
standards in synch.

The address for ECMA is:

    ECMA Headquarters
    114 Rue du Rhone
    1204 Geneva
    Switzerland

You should ask for the publications list.  I think they will not send out
more than 4-5 standards documents per request.  Available standards include
various international character codes, tape reel and cartridge standards,
tape volume and file structure, CD-ROM volume and file structure, CD-ROM
physical media format (formerly available only to Philips/Sony licensees),
floppy disks, etc.

-- 
A. Lester Buck		...!texbell!moray!siswat!buck