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Analyzing ICANN
The committee that would be king.
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The * symbol indicates an initial gTLD-MoU supporter. Watch their moves in ICANN.

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.>ICANN

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
(http://www.icann.org)

ICANN, conceived by Jon Postel, grew out of 1997 and 1998 efforts by Ira Magaziner and those after him at the White House in discussion with players worldwide, responding to raucous protests blocking implementation of the gTLD-MoU plan for Internet governance. Today ICANN likewise faces global opposition. Like gTLD-MoU, ICANN aims at privatizing the public Internet. Also like the gTLD-MoU, fears persist of secret deals and despotic actions by the principal players.

Learn more about ICANN,
consider a Critical Analysis

One can deal with ICANN's existence from outside or inside the organization, but for now, like it or not, ICANN is attempting to be THE Internet government. Will their coup be a fait d' accompli? Unless enough people say NO! and speak up in favor of network democracy, we're stuck.

You can speak up by sending brief, polite emails to the players below.

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> Competing DNS Players

(List compiled in 1997, revised in 1988 & 1999. Please help update. Send email.)

To be certain your message is effective, keep your comments polite, brief, and to the point. Incoming letters often are sorted by a staff member who tallies the pro and con positions on an issue. Leaders rarely see individual letters, unless they are especially well written or come from a person with standing in the community. Each letter acts as a vote; your vote does count!
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AlterNIC Domain Name Registration Service (AlterNIC)
(www.alternic.net) Eugene Kashpureff's rebel RSC (root server consortium).

American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN) *
(http://www.arin.net) This ISOC affiliate would have handled IP number assignments.

Australian Root Server Confederation (AURSC)
(http://aursc.ah.net) RSC led by Adam Todd, implacable foe of Sen. Paul Twomey.

Association for Interactive Media (AIM)
(www.interactivehq.org) When led by Andy Sernovitz; stymied gTLD-MoU. And now?

Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
(http://www.cdt.org) Advocate for establishing constitutional rights in the computer age.

Center for Next Generation Internet (NGI)
(http://www.ngi.org) Tony Rutkowski's influential operation. Closely affiliated with WIA.

Domain Name Rights Coalition (DNRC)
(http://www.domain-name.org) Offering advocacy for domain name holders.

Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO)
(http://www.dnso.org/) Advisory body to ICANN regarding DNS issues.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
(http://www.eff.org) Advocacy for network privacy rights. Esther Dyson's home base.

Enhanced Domain Name Services (eDNS)
(http://www.edns.net) Karl Denninger's revived alternative root server confederation.

Federal Networking Council (FNC)
(http://www.fnc.gov) Networking issues forum for US Government agencies.

generic Top-Level Domain name Memorandum of Understanding *
(gTLD-MoU), (http://www.gtld-mou.org) Organization alleged to have "captured" ICANN.

gTLD-MoU interim Policy Oversight Committee (iPOC) *
(http://www.gtld-mou.org) The "self regulating" IAHC governors. Transmuted into ICANN.

Independent Domain Name Organization (IDNO)
(http://www.idno.org) Seeking ICANN recognition as a DNSO constituency.

Integrated Network Information Centers (iNIC) *
(http://www.iiia.org/itld/) Features the International Top Level Domain Working Area.

Information Technology Association of America (ITAA)
(http://www.itaa.org) Virginia-based representative of information technology companies.

The Intellectual Property Law Foundation
(http://home.wxs.nl/~intprop/) Based in Holland, working groups on IP Issues.

International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC) *
(http://www.iahc.org) ISOC and IANA; IAHC "dissolved" and became iPOC. Here are the records.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) *
(http://www.itu.int) Geneva-based global arbiter of network technical standards. Key MoU backer.

International Trademark Association (INTA) *
(http://www.inta.org) Working for online trademark and brand name protection.

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) *
(http://www.iana.org) See IAB. ISOC's Jon Postel et al, TLD root administrators at USC.

Internet Architecture Board (IAB) *
(http://www.iab.org) See IANA. Advises ISOC, has oversight of network protocols.

Internet .A-.Z Name Registry
(http://www.a-zregistry.com) Searchable alphabetical registry directories by Steve Page.

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) *
(http://www.ietf.org) ISOC-friendly community for Internet architecture and operations.

Internet Law & Policy Forum (ILPF)
(http://www.ilpf.org/) Providing a neutral venue for developing network governance solutions.

Internet Mail Consortium (IMC) *
(http://www.imc.org) Owned and operated by Dave Crocker, a leader of the gTLD-MoU.

Internet Society (ISOC) *
(http://www.isoc.org) Virginia-based global NGO of Internet professionals. Prime IAHC members.

InterNIC Domain Names Registration Service (Search Whois)
(http://www.internic.net) See NSI/NSF. Monopoly registry for ".com," ".org," ".edu" TLDs

Iperdome Domain Names Registration Service (IDNRS)
(http://www.iperdome.com) Jay Fenello's ".per" personal domain names.

Monolith Internet Services International (ML)
(http://www.ml.org) Nonprofit organization registering free hostnames (virtual domain names).

Name.Space (PG Media)
(http://www.pgmedia.net ) Paul Garrin's effort for shared TLDs without a hierarchical DNS.

National Science Foundation (NSF) *
(http://www.nsf.gov) Virginia-based US Government agency. Internic participant.

National Telecommunications Infrastructure Admin. (NTIA)
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov) US Dept. of Commerce, "Information Superhighway" section.

NetNames Domain Names Registration Service (PAB/CORE) *
(http://www.netnames.com) Antony Van Covering in USA (PAB) and Ivan Pope in UK (CORE).

Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) *
(http://www.netsol.com) The Internic administrator. Favored gTLD, Now mortal foe of ICANN.

Nominet UK
(http://www.nic.uk) Responsible for the registration and maintenance of all ".uk" domain names.

Universal DNS Root Server Confederation (uDNS)
(http://www.wia.org/pub/racko-dnsnoi-comments.html) RSC advocating an alternative to gTLD-MoU.

Voices from the "Committees of Correspondence"
(http://www.media-visions.com/newdom1v.html) Links to assorted DNS players. (Jan. 1998)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) *
(http://www.wipo.int) Geneva-based guardian of transnational corporate copyrights & trademarks.

World Internetworking Alliance (WIA)
(http://www.wia.org) Working for an open global network. Great DNS map & more links!

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> Government & Industry Leaders
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Government leaders tend to be more open to public comments than business leaders, because government officials are either elected or appointed by someone who is elected, but the modern corporation is increasingly sensitive to the pressures of public opinion. Leaders realize that each one who speaks up represents thousands who agree but stay silent. So, speak up!
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To be certain your message is effective, keep your comments polite, brief, and to the point. Incoming letters often are sorted by a staff member who tallies the pro and con positions on an issue. Leaders rarely see individual letters, unless they are especially well written or come from a person with standing in the community. Each letter acts as a vote; your vote does count!

US White House
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/) Enter the front door. Links to divisions of the Executive branch.

United States Senate
(http://www.senate.gov/) Some Senators in The Club may never be online. What about yours?

Go: US Congressional Directories
(http://www.go.com/WebDir/Government_and_Politics/Civics_and_citizenship/Congressional_e_mail_directories
?lk=noframes&svx=related/) All states are equal, but some Reps are more accessible than others.

US National Telecommunications Infrastructure Admin. (NTIA)
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov) US Dept. of Commerce, "Information Superhighway" division.
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United Nations
(http://www.un.org) Several UN sections and agencies are interested in network democracy.

United Nations Member States
(http://www.un.org/members/) Most nations have state websites. Drill down for contacts.
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AIM's Guide to Internet Organizations
(http://www.interactivehq.org/html/netgroups.htm) Broad listing. Why not lobby the lobbyists?.

AIM's Directory of Interactive Media Companies
(http://www.interactivehq.org/html/member_directory.htm) Contact the key corporate players.

> Educational Resources
Please see the "Get Informed" section of the ICANN Analysis.

Please see the page of links to articles on network governance.

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