Domain Registration Related News
US reasserts control over the Internet
July 2005
The Bush administration announced on Thursday that the US
government will not hand over control of the Internet to any other
organisation, a surprise move that could presage an international
flap.
At the moment, the US government maintains control of the Internet's
"root" the master file that lists what top-level domains are
authorised but has indicated in the past that it would transfer that
responsibility to ICANN.
The new principles, outlined by Assistant Commerce Secretary Michael
Gallagher, say the US government will "maintain its historic role in
authorising changes or modifications to the authoritative root zone
file". In addition, the principles say, the US government will
continue to maintain "oversight" over ICANN and prevent its "focus"
from straying from technical coordination.
Gallagher's blunt announcement to a wireless conference in Washington
DC just a few days before ICANN's next meeting in Luxembourg hints
that the Bush administration would like to keep the Marina del Ray,
California-based non-profit group on a short leash. ICANN has become
the target of criticism as its budget has zoomed upward from $7m in
2003 to around $16m today.
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