Why is the NMRA considering a standard based upon proprietary equipment?
We are not. The NMRA requires that adherence to standards does not require you to gain a license from a vendor. Further no copyrighted, patented or proprietary information can be in a standard unless it has been released to the entire industry. We have a letter to the NMRA from Lenz confirming that there is nothing in the draft Standards and Recommended Practices that infringe upon any Lenz copyrighted, patented or proprietary information. One should also note that we have made significant extensions to the original Lenz system. In short, the standard is not based on proprietary equipment. It has its roots in the Lenz system, which has been made public.
