Domain Registration Related News
ICANN selects its wardens
December 2004
The Internet Coporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN) has selected the two independent
wardens of its activites after a two-year delay.
The role of Ombudsman has been filled by Canadian
Frank Fowlie, and the Independent Review Panel
will be run by the International Centre for
Dispute Resolution (ICDR), a division of the
American Arbitration Association.
The two roles are vital to ICANN's future as it
seeks to become an autonomous body in charge of
the Internet. In 2006, its remit to act as the
Net's overseer will end, and others will seek to
take over the worldwide medium.
Independent review is the biggest stumbling block
facing ICANN in its quest to be accepted as the
world authority over the Internet. Since its
inception in 1999, the organisation has been
dogged by accusations of closed-doors
decision-making and self-seeking behaviour. ICANN
was eventually pressed into including an Ombudsman
and Independent Review Panel into its bylaws in
December 2002.
Since then, critics have been infuriated to see
ICANN failing to fill the posts, claiming whenever
challenged that it was still seeking the
appropriate candidate. Two years later, we finally
have them.
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