Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Internationalization and Technical Stewardship of the Internet 8 May 2005 Cairo, Egypt Theresa Swinehart General Manager, Global Partnerships

Internet Resources Management: The Past

THE ARPA NETWORK – SEPTEMBER 1969

The early days of the Internet Network set up in the US scientific community Under R&D contracts to the US government Administered by the UCLA from Los Angeles Originally connected 4 universities Growing slowly into a larger scientific research network With increasing decentralisation and Involving scientists in the whole world was added in 1972, file transfer in 1973

Internet: The Mid 80’s

USENET 1986

Internet: from R&D to commercial Increased use of scientific community Most use in US universities and R&D institutes International scientific use has commenced Domain Names System invented in 1983 First non-scientific use is considered 1990: first commercial provision of Internet dial-up access 1991: www invented in CERN - Switzerland

Community values Ensuring a single, end-to-end interoperable Internet Bottom-up technical policy making and decision making Participation open to all who wish to do so Legitimacy determined by open participation and the value of the contribution to the joint effort, rather than power Consensus based decision making, but not full ‘census based’ consensus Cooperation, Coordination and Consultation among participants and groups pushing forward initiatives Yet, VERY spirited and blunt public debate

The Internet Today and…. The Challenges

The political world

The telecommunications world

The Internet Today: 200,000 interconnected networks 10,000’s of players from private sector providing equipment, applications, networks, pipes, services, research Academics assisting in research on standards and protocols The backbone of the digital economy A multi-stakeholder platform

From the past …to the future Small (4 university networks, 100’s users) Scientific purpose US based Scientific backbone Single jurisdiction Regulated relations A few scientific issues Industrialised countries interest  Huge (today over 200,000 networks, 1 billion users )  Multi-stakeholder purpose  Global  Global economy backbone  Multiple jurisdictions  Contractual relations  Multi-layered stack of issues  Industrialised and developing countries interest

ICANN and its structure

ICANN: The Basic Challenge An effective mechanism for technical self-management by the global Internet community serving a globalized economy

Before ICANN, these stakeholders competed for influence over the Domain Name and IP Addressing systems IETF ETSI Registries ISPs Root Server Operators Security Issues IAB FCC FTC Registrars UNDP Foreign Business US Business ITU (ITU-T) WIPO OECD Intellectual Property interests Consumers Developing World Governments ccTLD registries Civil Society Groups US Military NATO NSI/ Verisign Regional Internet Registries Universities OECD governments W3C

At-large Advisory Committee ALAC Country Code Names Supporting Organisation ccNSO Generic Names Supporting Organisation GNSO Within ICANN, all stakeholders work collaboratively in the policy structure Root Server System Advisory Committee RSSAC Technical Liaison Group TLG Security and Stability Advisory Committee SSAC Address Supporting Organisation ASO President/ CEO Governmental Advisory Committee GAC Board of Directors

What is ICANN responsible for? ICANN is responsible for the global technical self-management of the Internet’s unique identifiers ICANN is dedicated to: Preserving the operational stability of the Internet; To promoting competition; To achieving broad representation of global Internet communities; And to developing policy appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes

What ICANN does not do Content on the Internet Spam Financial transactions online Consumer Protection Law Privacy Law Data Protection Law Intellectual Property Law E-commerce, e-education, e-government, etc.

Stability and security with open architecture Unique StableSecure IP Number Resources Protocol and port parameters Domain Name System Variety of data technologies and applications Diverse, distributed data networks New protocols and services

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATIONS 1.Contribute to stability and security of the unique identifiers system and root management 2.Promote competition and choice for registrants and other users 3.Forum for multi-stakeholder bottom-up development of related policy 4.Ensuring on a global basis an opportunity for participation by all interested parties

A Closer look at one area of success ICANN successful in changing the market structure for the registration of generic TLD’s A US$1 billion annual reduction in domain registration fees –Competition in the registrar business The market competition for generic domain name (gTLD) registrations established by ICANN has lowered domain name costs by 80%, with savings for both consumers and businesses.

Establishing and fostering competition and choice Price Innovative services Registry functions Registrar functions Fostering competition through market mechanisms Increasing choice through registrar competition and new gTLDs

Outreach to and service for all Internet users How stability and competition is accomplished Stability and security Independent bottom-up coordination Competition and choice Global stakeholder representation Developing nation Internet communities Developed nation Internet communities

Government and inter-government agencies Stakeholders in the Domain Name System Coordination Collaboration Cooperation Business, civil society and academia Agreed policy Responsive process Technical bodies and organisations

Stakeholders in the Domain Name System Government and inter-government agencies World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Inter-American Telecommunications Union (CITEL) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) UN Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) African Telecommunications Union (ATU) European Union (EU) Commonwealth Telecommunications Oragnisation Individual governments are also grappling with how to address new information society issues that cross over many government departments, foreign and domestic policy, cultural distinctions, economic development and similar public policy challenges Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie

Business, civil society and academia Stakeholders in the Domain Name System Business organizations have an inherent interest in contributing to the Internet’s growth and potential Civil society organizations, from all parts of the world and from all aspects of society, remain committed to the potential of the Internet for the needs of civil society The academic community, regardless of location, has played and will always play an important role in the Internet

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Forum Internet Society (ISOC) Internet Architecture Board (IAB) Domain name registrars Regional Internet number Registries (RIRs) Security and technical experts International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ENUM Forum IPv6 Forum Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Space research agencies gTLD and ccTLD registries Internet Service Providers Technical bodies and organisations Stakeholders in the Domain Name System

International multi-stakeholder representation and participation Government Advisory Committee: about 100 governments and 5 + International Treaty Organisations At-Large Advisory Committee: 18 At-Large Structures from four global regions Board of Directors represents 14 nationalities ICANN Staff hail from nine different countries (Australia, Denmark, France, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Niger, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States)

OECD Report continued ‘When OECD countries allocate resources they have certain common objectives irrespective of the method chosen. These can include efficient allocation of a resource and efficient use of that resource, transparency in the award of resource, non-discrimination, and the creation of appropriate conditions for market competition. There may also be other wider economic and social objectives. Through statements and actions it is clear that ICANN shares the ideals inherent in these objectives.’

The International Multi-stakeholder Organisation of the 21 st Century: Transnational All stakeholders represented –Including governments with choice of relevant agency or agencies Flexible in organisational management No capture by individuals, groups, or organisations Reflective of its own regime. Focus on effectiveness and relevancy

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