[FYI] (Fwd) FC: ITU wants to wiggle into Internet domain name space

["Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:32:29 -0400
To:             	politech@politechbot.com
From:           	Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject:        	FC: ITU wants to wiggle into Internet domain name space
Send reply to:  	declan@well.com

[If y'all thought ICANN was bad... --Declan]

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http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/021020/72/33wtu.html

"Global Organization Seeks Voice in Internet Addressing System"
Wall Street Journal (10/21/02) P. B4; Delaney, Kevin J.

Last week at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
organizational conference, ITU member representatives voted for a
resolution calling on the ITU to take an active role in all
"discussions and initiatives" involving domain names and the
domain-name system (DNS). Some view the ITU vote as a move to step
into the uncertainly surrounding domain names and the DNS, both of
which are overseen by ICANN, a group that has been criticized even by
ICANN allies. The ITU is affiliated with the United Nations, is a
global organization, is dominated by international telecom companies,
and must seek member government approval for ITU policies; some domain
name industry observers believe the massive ITU structure would
further marginalize domain name industry and public advocate voices.
The U.S. government as well as the tech community have opposed ITU
involvement as being too cumbersome. In contrast, ICANN ostensibly is
free from government involvement in day-to- day decision-making. The
domain name industry is estimated to be a $2.5 billion industry, and
control of a domain name, such as amazon.com, is vital to the many
businesses that own them. Because governments are involved in the ITU,
analysts such as Syracuse University professor Milton Mueller believe
that governments could use ITU power over DNS issues as "a convenient
point of leverage for enforcement regulation." The disarray at ICANN
is leading some to conclude that private- sector management of the DNS
cannot work, while Yale Law School instructor David Johnson notes that
ITU's foundation in governments would provide "enforceable global
regulations." Some experts say ICANN should be structured to focus on
technical issues, while the ITU could be responsible for public
policy; however, others say such issues often overlap.




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