The Federal Geographic Data Committee has been at work on another in a series of standards, this time dealing with the data contents for address databases. Their draft of this proposed standard is out for review with comments due back by July 31.
Physical addresses (as compared to e-mail addresses) are a common way to organize information on properties, structures, and residents. By linking an address to its geographic position, either as a simple point or at a place along a road network, various computerized applications can be built to facilitate routine functions and spatial analysis.
However, there are many different ways in which address information can be arranged in a database, so standards are helpful in integrating these databases to gain efficiencies and effectiveness.
More information: FGDC Address Standard web page