IEEE 802 working groups

The 802 portion of the IEEE is responsible for publishing standards on a number of different protocols. The IEEE 802 Standard comprises a family of networking standards that cover the physical layer specifications of technologies from Ethernet to wireless. IEEE 802 is subdivided into 22 parts that cover the physical and data-link aspects of networking. 

All the 802.11 specifications use the Ethernet protocol and Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) for path sharing. The original modulation used in 802.11 was phase-shift keying (PSK). However, other schemes, such as complementary code keying (CCK), are used in some of the newer specifications. The newer modulation methods provide higher data speed and reduced vulnerability to interference.

Working Group	Task & Description	Status
802.1	Higher Layer LAN Protocols Working Group, which develop standards and recommended practices in the areas of 802 LAN/MAN architecture, internetworking among 802 LANs, MANs and other wide area networks, 802 Security, 802 overall network management, and protocol layers above the MAC & LLC layers.	Active
802.2	Logical Link Control Working Group, Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks Specific requirements	Inactive
802.3	Ethernet Working Group, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications	Active
802.4	Token Bus Working Group, this is a network implementing the token ring protocol over a "virtual ring" on a coaxial cable. It is mainly used for industrial applications.	Disbanded
802.5	Token Ring Working Group, this is a protocol which resides at the data link layer (DLL) of the OSI model.     It uses a special three-byte frame called a token that travels around the ring.	Inactive
802.6	Metropolitan Area Network Working Group, It is an improvement of an older standard (also created by ANSI) which used the Fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) network structure. This form supports 150 Mbit/s transfer rates	Disbanded
802.7	Broadband TAG, The working group did issue a recommendation in 1989, but is currently inactive and in hibernation.	Disbanded
802.8	Fiber Optic TAG, to create a LAN standard for fiber optic media used in token passing computer networks like FDDI.	Disbanded
802.9	Isochronous LAN Working Group, this is developed standards for integrated voice and data access over existing Category 3 twisted-pair network cable installations. It was developed to provide data and voice/video over the same wire without degradation by fixing the amount of bandwidth assigned to the Ethernet and B-channel sides.	Disbanded
802.10	Security Working Group, specifies security association management and key management, as well as access control, data confidentiality and data integrity.	Disbanded
802.11	Wireless LAN Working Group, is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands.	Active
802.12	Demand Priority Working Group, is a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet standard specified to run over four pairs of category 3 UTP wires.	Inactive
802.14	Cable Modem Working Group, it is develop to a standard for cable modem systems and developed for a draft standard, which was ATM-based.	Disbanded
802.15	Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Working Group , which is famous as Bluetooth / ZigBee, Wireless Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)	Active
802.16	Broadband Wireless Access Working Group, Air Interface for Broadband Wireless Access Systems	Active
802.17	Resilient Packet Ring Working Group, is a standard designed for the optimized transport of data traffic over optical fiber ring networks.	Active
802.18	Radio Regulatory TAG, he Radio Regulatory Technical Advisory Group (RR-TAG) .	Active
802.19	Coexistence TAG, is the Wireless Coexistence Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and The TAG deals with coexistence between unlicensed wireless networks.	Active
802.20	Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) Working Group, Air Interface for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Systems Supporting Vehicular Mobility--Physical and Media Access Control Layer Specification	Active
802.21	Media Independent Handoff Working Group, The standard supports algorithms enabling seamless handover between networks and Mobile IP provides handover mechanisms for handover across subnets of different types of networks.	Active
802.22	Wireless Regional Area Networks, Cognitive Wireless RAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications: Policies and procedures for operation in the TV Bands	Active