FIPS 10-4

In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of FIPS 10-4, a topic that has captured the attention of countless people over the years. FIPS 10-4 has been the subject of debate, study and speculation, and its impact on society has been profound and lasting. From the earliest historical records to the present day, FIPS 10-4 has played a critical role in shaping culture, politics, and the way we understand the world around us. Throughout these pages, we will delve into the rich and diverse history of FIPS 10-4, exploring its origins, evolution, and its relevance in the modern world.

The FIPS 10-4 standard, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, was a list of two-letter country codes that were used by the U.S. Government for geographical data processing in many publications, such as the CIA World Factbook. The standard was also known as DAFIF 0413 ed 7 Amdt. No. 3 (November 2003) and as DIA 65-18 (Defense Intelligence Agency, 1994, "Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features").

The FIPS 10-4 codes are similar to (but sometimes incompatible with) the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. The standard also includes codes for the top-level subdivision of the countries, similar to but usually incompatible with the ISO 3166-2 standard.

History

On September 2, 2008, FIPS 10-4 was one of ten standards withdrawn by NIST as a Federal Information Processing Standard.[1] The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency continued to maintain the FIPS 10-4 codes in an informal document titled "Geopolitical Entities and Codes" (GEC) until December 31, 2014,[2][3] retiring the GEC on March 31, 2015.[4]

On January 23, 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense released the first edition of "Geopolitical Entities, Names and Codes" (GENC), a U.S. federal government profile of ISO 3166-1 and ISO 3166-2. GENC is designed to be compatible with ISO 3166 but reflect U.S. government diplomatic recognition and naming decisions by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names; it is intended to be the basis for a future U.S. national profile of the ISO standards.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Federal Register, September 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 170), page 51276
  2. ^ "Appendix D: Country Data Codes". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "NGA: GNS Country Codes". geonames.nga.mil. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  4. ^ "GENC Standard — Frequently Asked Questions". NSG Standards Registry. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Geopolitical Entities, Names, and Codes". NSG Standards Registry. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2021.