Here is more propaganda from our freind at ICANN courtesy of their corp[orate spin meisters. Press release: Governments Endorse Private Sector Internet Singapore, March 2, 1999 ) A powerful group of governments today endorsed the establishment of the private-sector model for the technical administration of the Internet. In a critical milestone for the establishment of the new market-led technical management structure, nearly 20 national governments from around the world reinforced the need for market-led solutions to the fast-moving evolution of the Internet. Cook: when a "powerful" group of 20 governments meeting secretly endorses so called free market control of the internet one had better examine such nonsensical premises very closely. Press release: Their actions confirmed the principles first put in motion by the United States government in July 1998. Cook: wrong. June 98 if release of the white paper is seen as ath start. Press release: Until late 1998, the Internet's technical administration was performed by or on behalf of the United States government. Cook: wrong. The US government contracted for administration in some cases, but never performed it directly. On behalf of the US government is partially correct. The wording gives the implication t hat this is now changed because presumably ICANN is doing that. This is false ICANN directly is doing nothing of the kind. Press release: The Governmental Advisory Committee of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) concluded its inaugural meeting today by endorsing the principles behind the creation of ICANN and committing themselves to play a constructive role in support of its processes. Cook: wanted definition of "constructive process" The national governments were joined by representatives of key multilateral governmental organizations and treaty organizations, including the European Commission, the International Telecommunications Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. COOK: how lovely.....just what t he internet needs in making decisions on its behalf. WIPO, ITU, EC, OECD.....with friends like these be sore afarid. For background consider how the same forces were shaping up their efforts 18 months ago. On October 28, 1997 Rick Wesson posted a Rueters news story to the IETF list: Internet Companies Welcome Idea of Global Charter BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A group of U.S., European and Japanese companies involved in the Internet informally welcomed a European Union proposal to draw up a charter to govern the global computer network. The companies, who have united as the Global Internet Project (GIP), said they wanted to be involved in the process, Peter F. Harter, global public policy counsel for Netscape Communications, told Reuters. "(They) will individually provide input as to how industry may play the best role," he said following a meeting in Brussels. EU Telecommunications Commissioner Martin Bangemann has proposed drawing up an international charter to deal with questions such as technical standards, illegal content, licenses, encryption and data privacy on the Internet and other electronic networks. On October 29 Carl Malamud, in a posting to the IETF list, blasted Bangeman for having a record of no accomplishment and on the 30th of October Vint Cerf stated: I think what the GIP companies are saying is that they'd prefer a global rather than a regional framework for Internet governance - however, I am surprised if they take the view that the European Com-mission is the appropriate body to lead this effort. Chris Rapier: The problem is that once cor-porations take control of protocol formation the last thing you are going to see is innova-tion. This might not have been true 5 years ago, but enough large companies have enough invested in the internet to push their decision makers toward the conservative end of the spectrum. So, while we may have an increased level of stability in the protocols, I think you'll find less "new" and "exciting" things actually getting out of the door. In-stead you'll end up with 53 byte ATM cells and compromise solutions that no one wants to use. The nature of the net was such that one man with a good idea and a certain amount of chutzpa could make a significant impact on the way things are done. Its been getting more and more difficult for that to happen, but something like GIP will most assuredly destroy this possibility. Craig Partridge (BBN engineer) Fundamentally what makes the Internet technology work, what has driven this boom in business, is its openness -- for the ability for anyone to develop a new application, *without* coordinating with other folks, and launch it on the net. Consumers can then decide what they want by acquiring the application or service. In short, the net continues to be driven by people's ability to develop cool and interesting things. I.e., where did the Web come from, or mobile IP? In short, the openness of the network drives business, by creating new business opportunities open to a fairly broad range of folks. I agree that separation of business and personal interests is a good idea, but I also believe that recognizing and announcing potential conflicts of interest are appropriate in these matters. >From: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 10:25:27 -0800 (PST) >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Announcement from Singapore Meetings - Governments Endorse >Private Sector Internet >Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Precedence: discussion > > >For Immediate Release > >Governments Endorse Private Sector Internet > >Singapore, March 2, 1999 ) A powerful group of governments today >endorsed the establishment of the private-sector model for the >technical administration of the Internet. In a critical milestone for >the establishment of the new market-led technical management structure, >nearly 20 national governments from around the world reinforced the >need for market-led solutions to the fast-moving evolution of the >Internet. Their actions confirmed the principles first put in motion by >the United States government in July 1998. > >Until late 1998, the Internet's technical administration was performed >by or on behalf of the United States government. > >The Governmental Advisory Committee of the Internet Corporation for >Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) concluded its inaugural meeting >today by endorsing the principles behind the creation of ICANN and >committing themselves to play a constructive role in support of its >processes. > >The national governments were joined by representatives of key >multilateral governmental organizations and treaty organizations, >including the European Commission, the International Telecommunications >Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and >the World Intellectual Property Organization. > >"Today represented a significant milestone in the establishment of >ICANN," said Australia's Dr. Paul Twomey, the Chairman of the >Governmental Advisory Committee. "We saw a broad cross-section of the >community of nations express strong support for the idea that the >Internet is best managed by the Internet community itself." > >The meeting was attended by representatives of 17 nations, including >Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, >Korea, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tuvalu, United >States. Germany's representative also attended today's meeting on >behalf of the President of the European Union. > >Dr. Twomey stated, "The governments and organisations attending today's >meeting represent the vast majority of Internet users. They also >reflected some of the most innovative policy approaches to the use of >the Internet." > >For example, Tuvalu has recently made Internet history by entering a >lucrative commercial arrangement for the marketing of its >.tv country code top level domain (ccTLD). > >The discussions in Singapore covered a broad range of issues, including >matters of structure and organisation, as well as significant policy >issues such as the administration of ccTLDs. > >The Governmental Advisory Committee is not a decision-making >intergovernmental organization, but a forum for providing advice to >ICANN. Under ICANN's Bylaws, the ICANN Board may refer matters to the >Governmental Advisory Committee, or the Governmental Advisory Committee >may raise issues and make recommendations on its own initiative. > >A website for the Governmental Advisory Committee has been established, >which can be accessed through the ICANN Homepage >(http://www.icann.org). > >About ICANN > >The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a >new, non-profit, international corporation formed to oversee a select >number of the Internet,s core TECHNICAL management functions. Between >now and September 2000, ICANN is slated to gradually take over >responsibility for coordinating domain name system management, IP >address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment coordination, >and root server system management. > >In the past, many of these functions have been handled by the U.S. >government, or by its contractors and volunteers. This informal >structure represented the spirit and culture of the research community >in which the Internet developed. However, the growing size and >international importance of the Internet has necessitated the creation >of a technical management body that is both more formalized in >structure, and more fully reflective of the geographic diversity of the >Internet community. > >ICANN is a non-profit corporation with an international board of >directors. Its initial board is led by interim chairman Esther Dyson, >and has members drawn from several nations. This initial board is >finalizing ICANN,s by-laws and procedures and working to pave the way >for a smooth and stable transition from the present administrative >system. The initial board members will be replaced by board members >elected by four different constituency groups, collectively >representing a broad range of the Internet,s technical and user >communities around the globe. > >For more information, please contact: >Andrew McLaughlin >ICANN >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >(65) 336-8111 Rm 3121 > >Patricia Ratulangi >Ogilvy Public Relations >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >(65) 277-9563 > > *************************************************************************** The COOK Report on Internet | New handbook just published:IP Insur- 431 Greenway Ave, Ewing, NJ 08618 USA| gency & Transformation of Telecomm.See (609) 882-2572 (phone & fax) | http://cookreport.com/insurgency.html [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Index to 7 years of COOK Report, how to subscribe, exec summaries, special reports, gloss at http://www.cookreport.com ******************************************************************************
