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The ICANN Bylaws provide for three Supporting Organizations (SOs) to assist, review and develop recommendations on Internet policy and structure within three specialized areas. (See Bylaws, Article VI.) The SOs help to promote the development of Internet policy and encourage diverse and international participation in the technical management of the Internet. Each SO names three Directors to the ICANN Board.
The three SOs are:
1. The Address Supporting Organization (ASO) is concerned with the system of IP addresses, such as 128.9.128.127, that uniquely identify the Internet's networked computers.
2. The Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO) is concerned with the domain name system (DNS), the system of names commonly used to identify Internet locations and resources. The DNS translates heirarchically-structured, easy-to-remember names (like www.icann.org) into IP addresses that have been assigned to specific computers.
3. The Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO) is concerned with the assignment of unique parameters for Internet protocols, the technical standards that let computers exchange information and manage communications over the Internet.
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Each of the Supporting Organizations names three Directors to the ICANN Board. Directors serve three-year terms, though staggered from one to three years at the outset.
The Supporting Organizations are the primary
source of substantive policy recommendations for matters lying
within their specialized charters, and serve as advisory bodies
to the Board according to the procedures set forth in the ICANN Bylaws.
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Each SO has adopted or is developing participation structures appropriate for its effective functioning. To participate in the activities of an SO, please visit its web page for details on participation.
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