IP: governments increase their internet meddling

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

From: Gordon Cook <cook () netaxs com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <com-priv () lists psi com>




Governments Must Ensure Internet Stability Says Leaked
 OECD Report


 CommunicationsWeek International


 04-APR-97 


 A leaked OECD report shown to CommunicationsWeek International warns
 member states that the Internet Domain Name Server system is of "critical
 importance", and that it is the duty of governments to ensure its
stability. In
 Monday's issue of CWI, the newspaper reveals that a closed-door working
group of
 the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
will
 meet next week to discuss possible DNS policies - the first time an
 intergovernmental body has discussed the matter. 
 JJJJJJ According to CWI, senior OECD officials have acknowledged the
leaked
 report's existence, and confirmed that DNS alternatives are on the agenda
of this
 week's working group. One OECD official told the newspaper that while the
private
 sector's role in Internet management is recognised, the OECD still
believes
 governments must establish a "framework" for that management. 
 JJJJJJ Despite its origins with the US Department of Defence Defence
Advanced
 Research Programme Agency, the Internet has so far been governed more or
less
 by the mutual consent of its users, and the administration of domain
names has
 been left to the InterNIC, a division of Network Solutions Inc., Herndon,
Virginia.
 The prospect of government intervention is likely to be fiercely
contested, both by
 interest groups which fear the stifling effects of government
bureaucracy, and by
 entrepreneurs who see a large business opportunity in DNS administration. 
 JJJJJJ 


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