[Infowarrior] - US to cede control of ICANN?

[Richard Forno]

(Sounds nice but seems toothless -- after all, the US likely won't  
ever cede 'control' of the Dot....-rf)

US to cede control of ICANN?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/25/us_icann_autonomy_report/
By Austin Modine in San Francisco

Posted in Networks, 25th September 2009 23:47 GMT

The US government has reportedly agreed to cede control over ICANN  
once its current pact with the internet oversight body expires next  
week.

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is a  
California-based non-profit that oversees the internet's address  
system. It currently operates under the auspices of the Joint Project  
Agreement with the US government, due to end September 30, 2009.

The Economist reports a new "affirmations of commitments" has been  
struck in place of the JPA that gives ICANN autonomy to manage its own  
affairs. The agreement allegedly extends indefinitely and is set to go  
into effect the day before the JPA expires.

The new deal also reportedly sets up "oversight panels" composed of  
representatives of foreign governments, which will conduct regular  
reviews of ICANN in four areas: competition among generic domains  
(.com, .net. .org, etc); the handling of data on registrants; network  
security and transparency; and accountability to public interests. The  
US will only retain a permanent seat in the latter, The Economist  
reports.

The panels would reportedly have no real authority over ICANN,  
however, and failing to follow their recommendations bares no  
penalties. It's not clear by the report which governments would be  
represented on the panels or how the countries being represented would  
be determined.

ICANN would also still require permission before making any major  
changes to internet operations under a separate agreement with the US  
government that expires in 2011.

When asked for comment, both ICANN and the US agency overseeing ICANN  
said negations are still ongoing and refused to confirm or deny the  
report.

US influence over ICANN has been a strong point of contention for many  
other countries. This June, the EU called on the US to relinquish  
control of ICANN when its contract expires in favor of "multilateral  
accountability." ®