Proposed SMCWG Charter Update

[Stephen Davidson]

The Charter for the SMCWG was written more than 5 years ago, and includes text whose primary focus was setting up the working group for the first time.

 

Since then the SMCWG has successfully published 9 versions of the S/MIME Baseline Requirements, and the CABF’s own Bylaws have been revised in ways that render some of the original SMCWG Charter moot.

https://github.com/cabforum/forum/blob/main/Bylaws.md

 

We propose to update the SMCWG Charter for several reasons:

1. To reflect that the SMCWG is now a functioning working group
2. To bring the Charter in closer alignment with the requirements of the ByLaws, including using the updated template for WG Charters

 

The S/MIME BR have been successful at standardizing the activities of S/MIME CAs and the profiles of S/MIME certificates. With its broad membership, the SMCWG is well positioned to also discuss topics seeking to improve the adoption and usability of S/MIME certificates.  The updated Charter includes text in 2.2, taken from suggested text in the ByLaws, to amend this scope.

 

A draft of the Charter is at https://github.com/srdavidson/cabforum/blob/SMCWG-charter-v2/SMCWG-charter.md

 

Rechartering is covered in section 5.3.2 of the ByLaws.  When the Chair and Vice Chair of the SMCWG are satisfied that the group has consensus on the new draft, an amending ballot must be voted upon at the Forum level. Such changes to the Charter do not require a corresponding change to chair positions.

 

This Charter draft, recently shared at the F2F, is on our agenda for the SMCWG on July 2.

 

Best regards, Stephen

 

Stephen Davidson

Industry Standards Development

stephen....@digicert.com

+1 441 505 4908

 

 

[Dimitris Zacharopoulos (HARICA)]

On 1/7/2025 12:05 π.μ., 'Stephen Davidson' via S/MIME Certificate WG - Public (CA/B Forum) wrote:

The Charter for the SMCWG was written more than 5 years ago, and includes text whose primary focus was setting up the working group for the first time.

 

Since then the SMCWG has successfully published 9 versions of the S/MIME Baseline Requirements, and the CABF’s own Bylaws have been revised in ways that render some of the original SMCWG Charter moot.

https://github.com/cabforum/forum/blob/main/Bylaws.md

 

We propose to update the SMCWG Charter for several reasons:

1. To reflect that the SMCWG is now a functioning working group
2. To bring the Charter in closer alignment with the requirements of the ByLaws, including using the updated template for WG Charters

 

The S/MIME BR have been successful at standardizing the activities of S/MIME CAs and the profiles of S/MIME certificates. With its broad membership, the SMCWG is well positioned to also discuss topics seeking to improve the adoption and usability of S/MIME certificates.  The updated Charter includes text in 2.2, taken from suggested text in the ByLaws, to amend this scope.

 

A draft of the Charter is at https://github.com/srdavidson/cabforum/blob/SMCWG-charter-v2/SMCWG-charter.md

 

Rechartering is covered in section 5.3.2 of the ByLaws.  When the Chair and Vice Chair of the SMCWG are satisfied that the group has consensus on the new draft, an amending ballot must be voted upon at the Forum level. Such changes to the Charter do not require a corresponding change to chair positions.

 

This Charter draft, recently shared at the F2F, is on our agenda for the SMCWG on July 2.

Hi Stephen, great work!

Can you please provide a redline of the proposed changes?

Thanks,
Dimitris.

 

Best regards, Stephen

 

Stephen Davidson

Industry Standards Development

stephen....@digicert.com

+1 441 505 4908

 

 

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[Stephen Davidson]

Hi Dimitris –

I attach a redlined version.  Generally, these are the changes:

• Much of the red is driven by text changing locations to match the new template.
• There are some deletions that are no longer relevant as they related to the WG startup, or the ByLaws has coverage.
• There are changes relating to probationary membership and suspension, which did not exist in the ByLaws at the time of v1.
• The eligibility audits for the Certificate Issuer have been updated to match the S/MIME BR.
• Addition of 2.2 Other Deliverables.

 

Best, Stephen

.
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[Dimitris Zacharopoulos (HARICA)]

On 7/1/2025 9:59 PM, 'Stephen Davidson' via S/MIME Certificate WG - Public (CA/B Forum) wrote:

Hi Dimitris –

I attach a redlined version.  Generally, these are the changes:

• Much of the red is driven by text changing locations to match the new template.
• There are some deletions that are no longer relevant as they related to the WG startup, or the ByLaws has coverage.
• There are changes relating to probationary membership and suspension, which did not exist in the ByLaws at the time of v1.
• The eligibility audits for the Certificate Issuer have been updated to match the S/MIME BR.
• Addition of 2.2 Other Deliverables.

 

Best, Stephen

Thanks Stephen, I wanted to check the scope of the WG which seems to have included text from the "introduction" section of the current Charter. It is quite longer than other WG scope sections but I think it's ok.

Best regards,
Dimitris.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/groups.cabforum.org/d/msgid/smcwg-public/CH0PR14MB51394EDBDE448047BA3024A0E541A%40CH0PR14MB5139.namprd14.prod.outlook.com.