What *is* the power of the FIPS

Friends, - My editor from the Covert Action Quarterly called with a question on a piece I've authored on the NSA's involvement in the development of the digital telephony bill. I animated the characters and campaign strategies in this narrative common to the clipper and DT initiatives. In that, taking about Clipper I mentioned its rise as a FIPS, etc. - QUESTION: Just what is the power of the FIPS outside of the interop issues in sending stuff back and forth from federal agencies?