The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a US-based not-for-profit public-benefit corporation which includes participants from all over the world. ICANN’s role has been to manage internet governance and to coordinate the global internet's systems of unique identifiers (allocation and assignment of domain names, internet protocol (IP) addresses and autonomous system numbers) and to facilitate the coordination of the operation and evolution of the Domain Name System (DNS) root name server system. (1)
Despite last minute blocking attempts by several US Congressmen, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the NTIA contract (National telecommunications and information administration) for the stewardship of ICANN expired on 30 September 2016.
From now on, ICANN will be supervised by the private sector represented by the “Global Internet Community”. The new ICANN governance model is based on the integration of stakeholders from a variety of horizons: corporations, professors, technical experts, members of the civil society, government representatives, etc.
According to Ed Black, President and CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry, the transition process to ensure long term internet stability and perpetuate an open internet - which has direct repercussions on the US economy and national security, should be carried out to completion. However, for those against such transfer, the end of the NTIA supervision creates a risk to see ICANN be a victim of undue influence or any appropriation by governments, multilateral or intergovernmental organizations, or commercial or non-commercial stakeholders jeopardizing freedom on the internet.
ICANN assures that the users will experience no change in their internet use after the transition.
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(1) See the Icann website at www.icann.org and the Digital watch website at digitalwatch.giplatform.org, and the page on IANA transition and ICANN accountability
Bénédicte DELEPORTE
Avocat
Deleporte Wentz Avocat
www.dwavocat.com
December 2016
Despite last minute blocking attempts by several US Congressmen, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the NTIA contract (National telecommunications and information administration) for the stewardship of ICANN expired on 30 September 2016.
From now on, ICANN will be supervised by the private sector represented by the “Global Internet Community”. The new ICANN governance model is based on the integration of stakeholders from a variety of horizons: corporations, professors, technical experts, members of the civil society, government representatives, etc.
According to Ed Black, President and CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry, the transition process to ensure long term internet stability and perpetuate an open internet - which has direct repercussions on the US economy and national security, should be carried out to completion. However, for those against such transfer, the end of the NTIA supervision creates a risk to see ICANN be a victim of undue influence or any appropriation by governments, multilateral or intergovernmental organizations, or commercial or non-commercial stakeholders jeopardizing freedom on the internet.
ICANN assures that the users will experience no change in their internet use after the transition.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
(1) See the Icann website at www.icann.org and the Digital watch website at digitalwatch.giplatform.org, and the page on IANA transition and ICANN accountability
Bénédicte DELEPORTE
Avocat
Deleporte Wentz Avocat
www.dwavocat.com
December 2016
