• the importance of ensuring that accessibility to people with disabilities is taken into account in the development of document description and processing standards
  
• that at its Berlin Plenary Meeting in October 2004 JTC1 established a Special Working Group on Accessibility (SWG-A)
  
• that JTC1 SWG-A has been developing a multi-part Technical Report PDTR 29138 (Information Technology - Accessibility Considerations for People with Disabilities) which looks at both user needs (Parts 1 and 3) and the extent to which existing standards meet those needs (Part 2)
  
• that the importance of accessibility is recognized by other standards bodies, including W3C (through its WAI initiative)
  
• that accessibility guidelines are incorporated in ISO/IEC 26300 ODF
  
• that (through the efforts of the Canadian and New Zealand National Bodies in particular) significant support for accessibility has been added to the final text of ISO/IEC 29500 OOXML
  

SC 34 resolves that accessibility considerations will be taken fully into account in current and future projects and urges its members to review the work of JTC1 SWG-A (especially PDTR 29138), W3C WAI and others, and to play an active part in the implementation and further development of accessibility guidelines

SC 34 requests that the SC34 Secretariat / Japanese National Body make a report to the next SC34 Plenary Meeting on the results of the JTC1 SWG-A meeting in Tokyo, Japan, 16-19 June 2008.

Abstain: Canada

Background

SC 34 is the JTC 1 designated maintenance body for ISO/IEC 29500 (Office Open XML file formats).

The passage of ISO/IEC 29500 has instituted a new era of standards activity in SC 34 related to document formats. ISO/IEC 29500 does not represent an isolated phenomenon, since SC 34 is also responsible for ISO/IEC 26300 and for interoperability between these and other projects.

SC 34 envisages the creation of three distinct working groups that meet the needs of:

1. ISO/IEC 29500
   
2. ISO/IEC 26300
   
3. Work on interoperability/harmonization between document format standards
   

and wishes to incorporate existing expertise on these standards.

For these reasons, SC 34 hereby establishes an ad hoc group pursuant to the JTC 1 Directives, clause 2.6.2, for investigating how the first of these groups may be set up most effectively.

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the group are as follows:

1. The task to be completed by the group is to advise its convenor on creation of a document proposing structures and mechanisms for onward work on ISO/IEC 29500. Onward work is defined as:
   
   • Maintenance as provided for by the JTC 1 Directives (in particular Section 15 - Maintenance of International Standards)
     
   • Handling new work items directly and exclusively related to ISO/IEC 29500 (e.g. creation of new Parts of this Standard or evolution of this standard)
     

   The proposal shall be drafted by the convenor as one or more resolutions (with supporting explanatory material) that may be discussed, revised and adopted by SC 34.
   

   The ad hoc group should consider the following factors in making its recommendations to the convenor:
   

   a) A new working group should be created in SC 34 for the purpose of maintenance of ISO/IEC 29500 pursuant to Section 15 of the JTC 1 Directives for standards maintenance.
   b) Editors and editing teams should be nominated as well as mechanisms for the nomination of editors and editing teams for ISO/IEC 29500.
   c) Transparency of process, consistent with JTC 1 Directives, is a goal of the recommended process.
   d) Consideration should be given to how Ecma and ISO/IEC versions of ISO/IEC 29500 may be best kept synchronized.
   e) The proposal should recommend ways in which onward work on ISO/IEC 29500 may be carried out in as timely a way as possible, without recourse to the accelerated mechanisms of PAS or Fast Track procedures.
   

2. The ad hoc group shall make its proposal to SC 34 for consideration at its plenary scheduled for 2008-10-01, at Jeju Island, Korea. A draft proposal shall be made available to SC 34 one month before the plenary.
   
3. The ad hoc group shall be open to participation from all SC 34 members, subgroup members, and liaison bodies. Participants shall be nominated by these bodies to the SC 34 secretariat in the usual way.
   
4. The ad hoc group shall be convened by Dr Alex Brown, as nominated by the UK National Body (BSi).
   
5. Administration and support for the ad hoc group’s activities shall be provided by the SC 34 Secretariat.
   
6. The ad hoc group shall arrange face-to-face, telephone and electronic meetings as required in accord with the provisions of the JTC 1 Directives. The first face-to-face meeting shall take place in early July in London, UK.
   

[Note: This group will focus only on the initial collection of comments on ISO/IEC 29500. The long-term maintenance of ISO/IEC 29500 will be addressed by Ad Hoc Group 1.]

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 establishes Ad Hoc Group 2 in accordance with subclause 2.6.2 of the JTC 1 Directives, with the following terms of reference:

• Definition of the task:
  
  • To define and put into operation a mechanism to compile a list of comments on ISO/IEC 29500 received from NBs, liaisons, and the general public.
    
  • To publish the on-going list as an open document on the SC 34 website.
    
• Time frame: The collection mechanism is to become operational within 90 days from the end of the April 2008 ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 plenary. Once this is operational, collection will continue until a long-term maintenance process is operational.
  
• Membership: Open to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 34 P and O members, liaison organizations, and subgroup representatives.
  
• Convener: Makoto Murata (JP).
  
• Meeting arrangements: Work will be handled primarily by email, with optional telephone conference calls at dates and times to be announced.
  

Unanimous

As soon as the Ad Hoc Group 2's comment collection mechanism is operational, NBs and liaisons are encouraged to use that mechanism to report possible editorial or technical defects in ISO/IEC 29500.

Unanimous

SC 34 requests the ITTF and the SC34 secretariat to distribute the already received final text of DIS 29500 to the SC 34 members in accordance with JTC 1 directives section 13.12 as soon as possible, but not later than May 1st 2008. Access to this document is important for the success of various ISO/IEC 29500 maintenance activities.

Unanimous

Unanimous

SC 34 approves the following target dates.

WG	Project No.	WD	CD	FCD	FDIS
1	TR 9573-11/Amd1	-	-	-	2008-09
1	19757-1	-	-	2008-04 (2nd)	2009-01
1	19757-5	-	-	2008-12	2009-12
1	19757-7	-	-	-	2008-10
1	19757-8	-	-	-	2008-04
1	19757-9	-	-	-	2008-04
2	9541-1/amd 4	-	-	-	2008-06
2	9541-2/amd 2	-	-	-	2008-06
2	9541-3/amd 2	-	-	2008-04	2008-12
2	9541-4	-	-	2008-04	2008-12
2	24754	-	-	-	2007-12
3	13250-1	-	2008-05	2008-12	2009-06
3	13250-4	-	-	-	2008-05
3	13250-5	-	-	2008-05	2008-10
3	13250-6	-	-	2008-05	2009-01
3	13250-7	-	2008-10	2009-03	2009-09
3	18048	-	-	2008-06	2009-04
3	19756	-	-	2008-05	2008-10
3	TR29111	-	2008-06	N/A	2009-03

Unanimous

Unanimous

Unanimous

Unanimous

SC 34 confirms/appoints its Liaisons and officers as follows:

Internal

• IEC/TC 100                      Dr. Yushi KOMACHI
  
• ISO/TC 46                        Dr. Sam Gyun OH
  
• JTC 1/SC 22                     Mr. Rex JAESCHKE
  
• JTC 1/SC 29                     Dr. Yushi KOMACHI
  
• JTC 1/IT Vocabulary MT   Dr. Patrick DURUSAU
  

External

• ECMA/TC 45    Dr. Makoto MURATA and Mr. Rex JAESCHKE
  
• OASIS              Dr. Patrick DURUSAU
  
• XML Guild        Mr. G. Ken HOLMAN
  

Unanimous