[Numeric-interest] 754R Sponsor Ballot call for government and academic participation

[David Hough 754R work]

>From Dan Zuras, the 754R chair:

> 	A moment ago I went to the IEEE-SA page where I manage the
> 	ballot process & extended the date for signup for the 754
> 	sponsor ballot.  I extended it to October 21, 2006.
> 
> 	We already have 70 voters in the following classes:
> 
> 
> 		P754 Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic
> 
> 		Eligible Voters by Classification
> 
> 		Classification  Eligible   Percent
> 				 Voters
> 		Academic              9     12.9%
> 		General Interest     19     27.1%
> 		Government/Military   1      1.4%
> 		Producer             26     37.1%
> 		User                 15     21.4%
> 				    ----  --------
> 				     70    100.0%
> 
> 
> 	While this is enough people & spread out enough to qualify
> 	for a valid ballot, we would like to involve more people in
> 	this process if at all possible.
> 
> 	Therefore, if you know anyone who is willing to participate
> 	please let them know they have another 3 weeks to sign up.
> 
> 	Remember, we need a 75% return.  So we're not interested in
> 	paople who are just curious.  We need people who are willing
> 	to do the job, read & review the document, & send us their
> 	well considered comments.
> 
> 	And, as we also need a well balanced ballot pool, please
> 	concentrate on your academic & government contacts if you
> 	can.
> 
> 	Thanks for your help...

*****

As a reminder, my previous communication, slightly updated:

*****

Subject: 754R Sponsor Ballot call for consumers

I have just verified that web-based enrollment in the 754R sponsor ballot
group is working.     I was able to join the IEEE-SA (standards association)
one day and the sponsor ballot group the next following the instructions at
http://754r.ucbtest.org/balloting.txt

As a reminder:

The IEEE 754R working group recommended a draft standard to the
IEEE Microprocessor Standards Committee on September 21, 2006.
It is proposed to
replace the withdrawn standards ANSI/IEEE 754-1985 and 854-1987.

MSC will then refer that draft to a Sponsor Ballot group, consisting
of individual experts representing various standards constituencies.
Part of the
MSC chair's responsibilities include obtaining a DIVERSE sponsor ballot
group.    The 754R working group has been dominated by standards
"producers", above all chip implementers, who have of course the most
immediate economic interest in the outcome.
What is especially needed is more standards "consumers," who in this case
are those who will write software within the programming environments
conforming to the draft standard, and those who will use such software.

I vigorously encourage participation
by such consumers.
Details of participation are explained at
http://754r.ucbtest.org/balloting.txt

Note that participation in an IEEE Sponsor Ballot is a significant commitment,
not to be undertaken lightly:

 * Membership in IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA)
 or a participation fee must be paid.
 For IEEE members, IEEE-SA membership is an additional $35/year.

 * Sponsor Ballot group members <b>must</b> return ballots.
 The ballot fails if significant numbers
 of ballot group members fail to act.

 * NO ballots <b>must</b> be accompanied by lists of changes that would
 convert a NO ballot to a YES.

 * It is anticipated that there might be several cycles of balloting,
 response, revision, and resubmittal.

 * The deadline for joining this Sponsor Ballot is Oct 21.    Based on
 my experience this week, I would suggest joining IEEE-SA or paying the
 participation fee by Sep 22 to allow a couple of days for the database
 to be updated before joining the Sponsor Ballot.


*****

Bob Davis recently provided this additional information:

*****

For those interested in the process please check the IEEE-SA Standards 
Board Operations Manual http://standards.ieee.org/guides/opman/index.html
looking at section 5.4 Standards ballot by the Sponsor at 
http://standards.ieee.org/guides/opman/sect5.html#5.4  to look at the 
process we will be following.

Also the Standards Companion at 
http://standards.ieee.org/guides/companion/index.html may help.

These also describe the input for the ballot to make your ballot count.

All comments must be addressed!  Any person not on the balloting body 
can send comments to Dan or me for inclusion in the review process. We 
will enter them as comments to be ballot that will be tracked just like 
other comment and votes and will be addressed by the Ballot Review 
Committee and seen by all balloters in the recirculation efforts.  This 
is also a method of correcting errors, or omissions from the draft.