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COMPUTERGRAM INTERNATIONAL: SEPTEMBER 06 2000
+ ICANN, Commerce Extend DNS Contract
Domain name regulator ICANN, the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers, has extended its contract with the
US Department of Commerce, as expected, to give itself more
time to complete the functions it was originally set up to
accomplish.
Under the original contract, ICANN had until September 30 2000
to complete several tasks including planning the introduction
of new top-level domain names into the DNS, transferring
control of the root server system from Commerce to a private
entity, and electing a ICANN board of directors from the
internet-using public. In addition, ICANN has yet to establish
"stable relationships" with the country-code TLD registries and
draw up contracts with the regional IP address registries.
The new contract runs up to one year until September 30 2001,
but can be terminated earlier if ICANN completes its tasks
beforehand. "We expect to complete the remaining transition
task without the need of additional extensions," ICANN CEO Mike
Roberts said in a statement.
Two of the highest-profile tasks - introducing new TLDs and
electing its board - are currently underway, with a target of
January 2001 for the former and mid-October 2000 for the
latter. However, the most politically charged mission - the
transfer of root control from Commerce to ICANN or another body
- will be more difficult.
In a recent report from Congress�s General Accounting Office,
Commerce was cited as saying it had no plans as to how or even
if the transfer would be dealt with. It is possible the DNS
system could be regarded as government property, and handing it
over to a private organization would involve all kinds of
Federal laws that would complicate matters.
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Michael Sondow
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INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF INDEPENDENT INTERNET USERS
http://www.iciiu.org (ICIIU) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel(718)846-7482 Fax(603)754-8927
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