IP: Prying open the Net's naming system

[David Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>
>
>Prying open the Net's naming system
>By Courtney Macavinta
>Staff Writer, CNET News.com
>August 26, 1999, 4:00 a.m. PT
>SANTIAGO, Chile--The body managing the Internet's vital naming system, which
>has been lambasted about its closed-door activities since its inception last
>year, is engaged in the grueling process of opening up its powerful circle
>to the broader Net community.
>
>At an international meeting here, the Internet Corporation for Assigned
>Names and Numbers (ICANN) spent a large part of its session yesterday
>listening to advice about how to set up geographically diverse at-large
>worldwide membership.
>
>The at-large membership arm of ICANN is supposed to have equal footing with
>large corporations and technical standards bodies to influence ICANN policy
>and to elect board members. The first election by the at-large group is
>expected to take place sometime next year.
>
>The board also will consider a proposal today to recognize a separate
>noncommercial constituency, composed of organizations such as nonprofit
>groups and educational entities, which also will have the power to shape
>ICANN policy.
>
>Both issues are critical to ICANN's quest to win the support of Net users.
>Online and off, many observers of the ICANN process have complained that the
>body already has made too many decisions without the at-large body in place.
>
>"Decisions are being made by ICANN that affect individuals on the Net, but
>it's very difficult to participate in this process right now," said Alan
>Davidson, staff counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology.
>
>Aside from a static comments page on its Web site, some stakeholders have
>said that there is no meaningful way for individuals or non-business
>entities to help mold ICANN policies, which will affect the rights of every
>business or individual who registers a Net name, the primary portals to
>information and commerce online.
>
>For its part, ICANN is trying to broaden the spectrum of participants.
>Already, ICANN staff has rejected the notion that only domain name holders
>be able to participate in the process.
>
>"ICANN's policy decisions on [the domain name system] and other issues
>extend well beyond the population of domain name holders," according to a
>staff report.
>
>The moves by ICANN this week also mark the latest step away from U.S.
>control over the domain name system. ICANN was recognized by the U.S.
>government to administer the Net's core technical functions and to foster in
>competition to Network Solutions, which turned a six-year government
>contract into a billion-dollar business primarily through its more than 5
>million ".com," ".org," and ".net" registrations.
>
>The ICANN board is set to vote tomorrow on a blueprint for creating a
>minimum 5,000-person at-large membership that will select 9 directors to the
>ICANN board, expanding the body to 18 members. Members would have to have an
>email address, physical address, verifiable citizenship, and the financial
>ability to support the at-large membership.
>
>Still, it is unclear exactly how ICANN will harness people to participate in
>the at-large membership. Some here suggested that Net name registrars reach
>out to their customers, while others say that a public service campaign
>needs to be launched.
>
>"There is a way to build an at-large membership by utilizing the medium,"
>said Ken Stubbs, chairman of CORE (the Internet Council of Registrars), who
>said that Net access providers should educate their customers about ICANN at
>the at-large electorate.
>
>However, it costs money to launch campaigns and to run elections--a huge
>obstacle for ICANN, which has been hard-pressed to garner money to run its
>own corporation.
>
>Moreover, there will be a cost associated with being a member because ICANN
>has said it won't foot the bill. The mechanism for raising this money has
>not been worked out yet, either, but ICANN staff pointed out in their report
>that a standard nonprofit membership fee is $25 to $50 per person per year.
>ICANN is hopeful that a nonprofit such as the Markle Foundation will fund
>the initial outreach and election.
>
>"We're getting some constructive suggestions about how to do this. Now all
>we need is the funding," said Esther Dyson, chair of ICANN's interim board.
>
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> > FYI
> >
> > Following is the link to the actions from the meeting ICANN Santiago
> > meeting.
> >
> >
> > http://www.icann.org/santiago/santiago-resolutions.htmRaymond
> >