July 6, 1999
The Internet Needs an Independence Day
by Solveig Singleton
When Paul Revere rode out to warn that British troops were marching on the
arsenal at Concord, he had a rough night ahead of him. Ambushed by British
forces, he never finished his ride.
Today Revere could just warn the colonists by e-mail. Indeed, if he were
alive today, he would be warning of a new force on the march.
While we sleep, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers,
ICANN, is creating a mechanism to subdue the Internet. The U.S. government
created ICANN to administer a few technical rules. But ICANN seems poised
to make itself an international government for the Internet, not a
technical-standards body. ICANN's regime is neither democratic nor
constitutional. . .
<snip>
ICANN is now the government of the Internet. With its elite meetings and
expensive retreats, it is not a democratic government. Nor it is a
constitutional government. Where does ICANN's authority come from? How can
abuse be prevented?
Founding documents and institutions matter -- the ideas outlined in the
Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution played a crucial role
in shaping America's future. This basic guidance is completely lacking for
Internet governance.
See the rest of the story at:
http://www.cato.org/dailys/07-06-99.html
Respectfully,
Jay Fenello
President, Iperdome, Inc.� 404-943-0524
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