[fitsbits] start of public comment period: changes of FITS WG voting rules

[Lucio Chiappetti]

This is to announce the start of a Public Comment Period lasting until 
November 18, about a proposal to change the "IAU FITS Working Group Rules 
and Procedures"

Essentially the idea would be to speed up the procedure for the approval 
of changes to the FITS standard by disbanding the Regional Committees and 
replacing the two-step voting procedure (RCs then IAUFWG) with a single 
step.

Contextually the "delay period" in case of foreseen negative votes should 
be decreased from 6 to 3 months.

At same time minor editorial adjustments will be applied to the text of 
the rules (like removing the mention of the NG sci.astro.fits replaced by 
mailing list FITSBITS)

You will find the text of the proposal (which has been discussed at length 
within the IAU FWG, its Executive and communicated to the present RCs) at
the following URL
http://sax.iasf-milano.inaf.it/~lucio/FITS/Proposal/newrules.html

It should contain enough explanatory information, together with a link to 
the current rules, and a way to highlight the proposed changes.

Please post your comments here on FITSBITS within November 18.

-- 
Lucio Chiappetti - INAF/IASF - via Bassini 15 - I-20133 Milano (Italy)
Current IAU FWG chair