<P> Standards organizations can be classified by their role, position, and the extent of their influence on the local, national, regional, and global standardization arena . </P> <P> By geographic designation, there are international, regional, and national standards bodies (the latter often referred to as NSBs). By technology or industry designation, there are standards developing organizations (SDOs) and also standards setting organizations (SSOs) also known as consortia . Standards organizations may be governmental, quasi-governmental or non-governmental entities . Quasi - and non-governmental standards organizations are often non-profit organizations . </P> <P> Broadly, an international standards organization develops international standards . (This does not necessarily restrict the use of other published standards internationally .) </P> <P> There are many international standards organizations . The three largest and most well - established such organizations are the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission, and the International Telecommunication Union, which have each existed for more than 50 years (founded in 1947, 1906, and 1865, respectively) and are all based in Geneva, Switzerland . They have established tens of thousands of standards covering almost every conceivable topic . Many of these are then adopted worldwide replacing various incompatible "homegrown" standards . Many of these standards are naturally evolved from those designed in - house within an industry, or by a particular country, while others have been built from scratch by groups of experts who sit on various technical committees (TCs). These three organizations together comprise the World Standards Cooperation (WSC) alliance . </P>

Who is responsible for developing and promoting internet standards