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Participation Fees for Standards Committees

 
In November the Society’s Board of Governors decided to implement supplemental charges for SMPTE engineering standards committees.  Although standards activities are a very important part of the Society’s work, only a relatively small proportion (less than 15%) of members participate.  These charges will enable continuing improvement of the infrastructure and support for standards activities without impacting the resources available for core services applicable to all members.

If you were directed to this page while trying to join the Standards Community, you were not recognized as having a level of membership that includes standards participation.  You may see the various classes of membership here; those that state "Standards Community" include the standards supplement.  If you need to change your membership type, please call or email Sally-Ann D'Amato at SMPTE Headquarters (contact information here).  But, read on; you may be exempt!

Not all members will pay the new charges; all companies who support SMPTE through Sustaining Membership will be permitted a number of complimentary participants.  In addition, educators and those not earning income as a result of their standards activities will be exempt.  (Basically, if you participate on behalf of your employer or as part of a consultancy business, you are liable for the supplement.  If you participate as a self-supported volunteer, you do NOT have to pay the supplement.)  Full details below.

The need for more revenue

SMPTE is now spending a considerable sum on new web services for engineering committees, and we need to spend more to provide better visibility and tracking of our documents and the work we have in hand.  We also want to improve services and provide, for example, toll-free telephone access to meetings from most countries, not just the USA and Canada. 

SMPTE is growing its membership slowly, but has not increased its membership dues for eight years, and the growth in membership is not adequate to cover the increased costs of the standards program.  Less than 15% of members take advantage of the standards program, and we need to avoid penalizing members who do not participate.
 
Many alternative models for collecting additional revenue were considered.  The Standards Supplement described below was determined to be the best method of gaining monetary support from the individuals and corporations who derive the most benefit from participating in the standards activities of SMPTE.  However, we recognize the need to apply additional charges fairly, and the exemptions listed below are designed to limit penalizing those who are already supporting SMPTE financially through sustaining memberships, or those individuals who may not be receiving compensation for their standards work.

The Standards Supplement

Effective March 1, 2009, a Standards Supplement of $200/year will be charged to members who wish to monitor or participate in standards activities—all those who are members of the “Standards Community”.  This is implemented by creating new membership types where the Standards Supplement is added to the regular membership dues so, for example, renewal will be $335 for “Active Professional with Standards Community” membership  ($135 plus $200 supplement).  Only members in one of these new membership types, or who are exempt, will be able to join (or remain in) the Standards Community.
Exemptions
 
Not all members will be charged the Standards Supplement.  The following exemptions will apply:

  • Diamond Sustaining Member companies:  these companies are our biggest supporters, and all employees of these companies will be exempt from the supplement.
  • Other Sustaining Members:  we appreciate the support of Sustaining Members at all levels, and all Designated Complimentary Members of Sustaining Member companies will be exempt (number varies with membership level).
  • Companies who host meetings: one of the principal reasons for the low cost of SMPTE standards activities is the generosity of our meeting hosts.  We will not charge the standards participation supplement to any employee of a company that hosted at least four days of SMPTE engineering meetings during the previous year.

  • Life Members, Life Fellows, and Honorary Members: this exemption recognizes the long and/or exceptional service of these members to the Society, and the value of this experience to the standards process.
  • Those not generating income from standards activities:  educators, retirees, anyone able to certify that they do not receive income by virtue of their participation in standards committees will be exempt.  In other words, if you participate as a self-supported volunteer, you do NOT have to pay the supplement.  If you believe you should be exempt for this reason, please contact the Director of Engineering & Standards.
  • Any member not exempted above who can show that payment of the standards participation supplement would create hardship may apply to the Director of Engineering for exemption, which may be granted subject to the approval of the Executive Director.  Again, please contact the Director of Engineering & Standards.



Agreement for Participation in SMPTE Standards Committees


Members wishing to participate in or monitor standards development activities must first join the Standards Community.  This joining process will require acceptance of the following Agreement.


Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

(hereinafter “SMPTE” or “the Society”)

Application for membership of the SMPTE Standards Community

By submitting this application I understand:

  • That on approval of my application I will be permitted to join any number of SMPTE Technology Committees;
  • That my initial status on each Technology Committee will be that of Observer Member, but that after attending one meeting I may apply for Participant Member status on that Technology Committee.
  • Participant Membership in any Technology Committee requires regular attendance at meetings and regular participation in formal ballots of the committee
  • That membership of the SMPTE Standards Community requires a single working email address for all committee communications, and access to the Internet for obtaining documents, participation in committee ballots, etc.

I acknowledge and agree:

  • That I will adhere to the Administrative Practices applicable to SMPTE Engineering Committees Engineering APs, the Intellectual Property Policy IP Policy and, following notification of any change, such rules and policies as the Board of Directors and/or the SMPTE Standards Committee may from time to time adopt.
  • That ongoing participation in Committee activities constitutes an agreement to be bound by any amendment(s) in rules and/or policies that are made from time to time. Such amendments and changes in policies will be communicated to me by email to the address I provide for committee communications at least 30 days before the effective date of the change
  • That I may be participating in issues relating to the ongoing appraisal of technologies, and in decisions that are interim by nature and may undergo substantial revisions. I recognize that SMPTE encourages me to discuss such issues privately with others considered to be knowledgeable in the field. However, since premature public disclosure may be a disservice to the industry I agree to refrain from either directly or indirectly making any public disclosure of the business transacted by the committee without the express consent of the Committee Chair and the Engineering Vice-President.
  • That recording of meetings (except by the Secretary as permitted by the Administrative Practices) is prohibited, and if, when available, I choose to attend meetings by electronic means this same prohibition applies
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