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ICANN CEO Proposes Radical Changes
Froomkin writes: "ICANN CEO Stuart Lynn today released a plan for a "strong" ICANN that would have 5 of 15 Board members selected directly by governments and the rest by registrars, registries, plus a few Board-squatter-like ringers chosen by the ICANN Board or staff. The main justifications offered for this shift are that in order to be "strong" ICANN needs more money, more support, and less "process". Of course, promises Lynn, ICANN's "core values of openness and broad participation" should be "preserved". (Don't laugh. It's not funny.) "Meaningful participation" will be achieved by cutting out any direct representation for end-users. Oh yes, ICANN wants a much bigger budget, and to be independent of the US Dept. of Commerce, and to get direct control of the root server operators too, all so as to ensure that ICANN has unimpeded ability to execute its (undefined, growing) "mission". ICANN was supposed to save the Internet from governments; since major interest groups such as the ccTLDs and RIRs won't do what ICANN wants, and won't pay it, ICANN now turns to governments to save it from the Internet. See the Press Release here, and then look at entire plan, then visit ICANNWatch.org for updates and commentary." Yep. The proposal would eliminate any pretense of At-Large involvement in running ICANN - it would be solely a governmental and corporate body.
I know a lot of people will give me flak for this, but I for one am tired of the outlaw nature of the internet. Sure it was fun for awhile, with Napster and that sort of stuff, but I think it's about time for the entire thing to settle down and grow up.
Of course lots of people don't want this to happen, because they think it's so "cool" to be a rebel and they like the way they feel when the do something related to the anarchy online. But disregard those people, who even now are probably crying that world is going to hell, and this will be the straw that breaks it's back.
Sure, whatever. Let the paranoid rant and rave. The undeniable fact is that it's time to get a new marshal in town, and if ICANN can step up and do the job, I say more power to them. Let's get the internet moving as a positive force in the world, a force of good to help the poorer countries develop, not as the US-centric anarchy/piracy/porn AOL OutLet Center (TM)
the story's submitter obviously didn't read the proposals the icann president made. he was far more reasonable than usual. go read the goddamn thing before you make assumptions about what he said.
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US Citezens own the Internet you Commie Jackass Terrorist! Our Taxes, hard work, sweat and blood paid for it!
I define the internet as the IP address space and the Domain Name System. Since both of those are controlled by the US Department of Commerce, I'd say that the US "owns" the Internet. As I've said, the rest of the world is free to create its own network, one that doesn't use our DNS or IP system, but until the quit your whinning about the Internet being global and deal with the truth.
just hand it over to Verizon?
Thank you very much.