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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > FYI
> >
> > Following is the link to the actions from the meeting ICANN Santiago
> > meeting.
> >
> >
> > http://www.icann.org/santiago/santiago-resolutions.htmRaymond