25/08/06
U.S. maintain their hold on ICANN
The American government has extended its contract with ICANN, and in doing so has effectively maintained its power over the management of the internet.
Although the new contract is only for one year, the American Trade Department has the right to extend it for another year, for four consecutive times. This would mean that the U.S. will stay in charge untill at least 2011.
The American non-profit organisation ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is responsible for the system of domain names and IP-numbers and is the de facto 'ruler' on the internet.
In the build up to the World Summit on the Information Society, last year in Tunesia, the relationship between the U.S. and ICANN was heavily criticized. Many countries were pleading for an independant internet managemnt, supervised by the United Nations. The European Union also wanted ICANN to give management out of their hands.
The U.S. however have held on to their power. ICANN will remain responsible for the DNS system. Although the U.S. have, claimed for years they want ICANN to become an independant organisation, the extension of the contract clearly maintains the power and influence of the U.S. over the internet.
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