To the fullest extent practicable to public agencies and business entities, the secretary, in close consultation with the advisory committee, shall ensure that the standardized electronic format and protocol established pursuant to Section 71061 meets all of the following criteria:
(a)
The format and protocol conforms with, or is compatible with, data interchange formats and protocols already in use in the regulated community for moving data from computer to computer, so that the format and pilot program may be implemented promptly, without the need for research and development into untried formats and protocols.
(b)
The format and protocol works independently of the type of computer hardware, software, operating system, data storage device, and telecommunications equipment employed by prospective senders and receivers.
(c)
The format and protocol accommodates the addition of new or revised data element specifications without requiring users to make costly modifications to the hardware or software that they employ to submit electronic data.