No role for UN in ICANN Simon Hayes November 16, 2004 http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11393890%255E15318,00.html
THE global domain name governing body has warned off the UN, saying it will operate as a private organisation when its agreement with the US Department of Commerce expires in 2006. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is responsible for managing the domain name and internet protocol address system, and operates under an agreement with the US Commerce Department. ICANN chief executive Paul Twomey, an Australian, said the organisation would cut its ties with the department when the agreement expired in 2006, and ICANN would not be under the authority of any international organisation. "The internet is 200,000 private networks linked by private agreement," Dr Twomey said. "At the heart of the way the internet works is that it grows quickly through the private-sector model. It's not formulated by international treaty." In a 63-page strategic plan to be issued today, the US-based body plots its future, including a fund to encourage participation of developing countries and more regional meetings. The document projects a marginally increased budget for additional activities, rising from $US15.8 million ($19.5 million) in the 2004-05 financial year to $US19.5 million in 2005-06. The budget could be increased by increasing charges on registrars and country code administrators. Some of that money will be spent on increased security, and although ICANN is not setting itself up as a major funding source, it is planning to develop a special fund for research into network security. "We don't see ourselves as a major funder of international research, but as an enthusiastic endorser of international initiatives," Dr Twomey said. ICANN wants to increase interest from the developing world, which missed out on the first wave of internet commercialisation in the early to mid-1990s. The organisation wants more representation from developing countries, and supports moves to bring more domain name country codes back under the control of those countries. These countries have been using UN mechanisms such as the World Summit on the Information Society in an attempt to influence the development of the internet. Dr Twomey said there was no chance the UN could control ICANN. "The Americans are explicit that they see their role in due diligence, and once that has happened they don't think it's the role of government to run the internet," he said. ICANN is on track to complete the 35 milestones set in the agreement with the US by 2006. It has already reached 10 of these goals. The Australian You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
