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.

Comments

Is anyone really surprised?

[pgrote]

If you look at the history of new communication methods they always become the domain, pun intended, of governments and businesses.

Telegraph and Radio: http://www.ipass.net/~whitetho/part1.htm

Television:
http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/schools/rta/brd038/cla sm at/class1/tvhist.htm

I am surprised that the internet has lasted this long in the public after the government ceded control to a panel.

It all comes down to funding in the end. In 1999 they started making noises: http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/schools/rta/brd038/clasm at/class1/tvhist.htm

If we think that the domain situation concerning freedom of speech is murky now, wait until countries such as China, Iran, etc. get onto the board.

You say you want a revolution?

[Eloquence]

If you want to defeat ICANN, then where's the alternative? It's no use if people run like headless chickens into different directions. We need a single democratic body that is better than ICANN and that we agree on. And damnit, if you want to make this happen, put a large banner or button supporting it on Slashdot, too. Make it a campaign banner that also encourages people to spread the word.

OpenNic sounds like a reasonably democratic choice. They allow voting on new TLDs. If there is any criticism of them, I'd like to hear it right here. Remember, if we can't vote, we can still vote with our feet.

Re:Why not multiple roots?

[DaSyonic]

It's AlterNIC, not AlterNET.

The least you could have done is check your links.

I personally like OpenNIC, but there are even more like Pacific Root and commercial ones like New.Net

Re:Wrong. The US Congress needs to take control.

[Lictor]

>Why? Because we paid for it and own it.

The US "owns" the *whole* internet, and paid for it? Wow.. am I ignorant. I guess it makes sense though, since Al Gore 'invented' it.

As far as I know, ARPAnet and the TCP/IP protocol stack were invented by scientists working in America (but you might want to go back and check all their nationalities... you might find a few suprises!). By extension the early internet was mainly in the US. But hey, have you ever heard of JANet (Joint Academic Network)? You know the early packet-switching network that the BRITISH had?

Yup, true story. 'Back in the day', there was a single link between what you so quaintly refer to as 'the whole internet' (e.g. the US network that grew out of ARPAnet) and JANet. You had to telnet to a host out on the US east cost (name escapes me at the moment, it was a long time ago) and then enter the JANet address you wanted.

I seem to remember that JANet address were 'backwards' too (e.g. org.slashdot.www )

As far as I know, JAnet was designed and built pretty much autonomously by the British. I don't ever recall hearing about American's desigining it, or paying for it. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was based on X.25 too.

Anyway, the point is that several other countries had their own packet switched networks that eventually got hooked together to create the 'internet'. As the lowest common denominator its true that TCP/IP become the de facto standard, and yes this is an American invention.

But the honest truth is that the U.S. "paid for and own" the internet about as much as Al Gore invented pants.

Open Root Server Confederation!

[asackett]

I've said it before, I'll say it again every chance I get: Open Root Server Confederation.

All it takes for the typical end-user to begin using the open root is a few minutes' engaged in some independent action. I can see a couple hundred TLD's -- ICANNot!