Code of Ethics Licensees Awareness  
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission and Beliefs

Who we are - Quality Testing Labs (QTL) was formed in July of 2000 as an independent self-governing regulating body with no partnerships and no inherent bias.

Our belief - is that the Internet, computers and related products, if used properly. responsibly and ethically, can be of tremendous benefit and value to the World. As an independent organization, QTL wants the Internet and computer-related Sites, Services, Products and the Organizations behind them to succeed for the betterment of all people.

Our ongoing mission - to enhance consumer confidence and trust in Organizations that have implemented best practices and procedures. Many of these Organizations are pioneers of the 21st Century, and if acceptance of the value they potentially can bring can be achieved, this acceptance will make the World a better place. Elevating the real levels of consumer confidence and trust is our mission, which we feel can only be accomplished if it is based on facts and real change.

Our concerns about these industries - 21st Century industries are moving so quickly, and changing so rapidly, that some are taking unjust advantage of the chaos without the Consumer in mind. This fact brings us to the conclusion that there is an immediate need for some form of minimal governance and regulation - and this can only be brought about by a nimble, flexible, committed independent third party that has no affiliation with partners that would cause inherent bias. If embraced, minimal governance and third party regulation could limit the need and extent of government intervention and the associated delays caused by the need to have all governments worldwide in agreement. If QTL can enable third party regulation and have Organizations accept it, it feels strongly that Organizations will grow and flourish along with the Consumers they serve.

Our concerns about internal self-regulation - In a perfect world, people would be able to govern themselves. However history has shown that when people involved in the same industries attempt to govern themselves, there is unavoidable bias in the speed of change and effectiveness of the programs they are capable of developing, due to the inherent bias. In other words, one does not want to punish oneself unless forced to...and unless these 21st Century industries keep pace with their frantic growth these Organizations will never be up to date. People directly involved in the growth of these industries have little true motivation to expedite the regulation on their own.

Why has the public lost confidence? - Currently, Sites, Services, Products and the Organizations behind them have been fairly unregulated, especially as it relates to the Internet. The reason for this loss of Confidence and Trust is in the publicized problems that have occurred relating to private information being sold, misused or distributed without the public's knowledge, security break-ins and hacking, poor customer service, poor delivery of products and services, lack of reliability, and the sinister acts of some that affect the integrity of all. When the acts of a few that have not adhered to promises made or the  fundamentals of good business practices are exposed, consumer trust and confidence is further eroded. QTL is not a proponent of strict regulation since we feel it hampers the growth and ability of Organizations to deliver new and better products and services. However, the reduction in consumer confidence and lack of trust seems to be the result of a lack of some form of regulation.

What does QTL plan to do about the issues - To meet its objectives as stated in our Mission, Quality Testing Labs will:

  • Create a Code of Ethics
  • License Organizations
  • Penalize Licensees for violations of the Code
  • Create Consumer Awareness of the important issues that effect them
  • Create Licensee Awareness of Consumer issues
  • Work with Insurance Providers to develop policies that adequately compensate the consumer in the event of damages, protect Licensees and make insurance affordable.

Regarding insurance, we believe the benefits of Site and User Liability insurance should be extended to Licensees and their Consumers, however the cost is currently too high and the coverage limited. We feel the QTL Code of Ethics and associated fines and penalties can reduce the risk and the cost. When available, Licensees will be able to purchase it independently of QTL, and Insurance coverage will be included in the Code. Note that we are not an insurance broker, nor are we affiliated, nor do we receive commissions from any insurance provider. We simply believe insurance is a necessary ingredient in accomplishing our mission.

Associations - To meet our objectives, QTL welcomes and will always be open to assisting all government and regulatory bodies in the US and other Trade Commissions, Departments of Justice, ICANN, the United Nations, Consumer Advocacy Groups, the World Wide Web Consortium, Industry consortiums and others that are trying to make the Internet, Services and Products safer and more effective.

 

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