Domain Registration Related News
Australia backs Internet status quo
July 2005
Australia has backed the current Internet governance regime in the
wake of the Bush administration's surprise announcement it would not
relinquish control of the Net to any other body.
In the past, the US has indicated it would transfer the responsibility
of managing the Internet's "root" -- the master file that lists what
top-level domains are authorised -- to the non-profit, private
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). But last
week, Assistant Commerce Secretary Michael Gallagher said the US would
"maintain its historic role in authorising changes or modifications to
the authoritative root zone file."
In addition, the US will continue to maintain "oversight" over ICANN
and prevent its "focus" from straying from technical coordination.
When asked if Australia supported the Bush administration's decision,
Senator Helen Coonan, Communications, Information Technology and the
Arts, told ZDNet Australia : "The governance of the Internet should
facilitate the participation of multiple stakeholders, including the
industry and business, civil society and governments.
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