U.S. willing to let go of Icann

Summary: The United States government will on Wednesday announce it is relinquishing most of the control it currently exerts over Icann, says the BBC

The United States government will on Wednesday announce it is relinquishing most of the control it currently exerts over Icann, the organization that runs the Internet's core domain systems, the BBC reports.

The ties between Icann, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and the U.S. government have long been a sticking point for many other countries, who are pushing for a true internationalization of the Internet. Issues that could be affected by the upcoming announcement include domain names in non-western scripts, the policing of the internet and the introduction of new domain extensions.

In July, the European Commission called for the U.S. government to let Icann become accountable to the whole of the world, and argued that the end of the current agreement between the two parties — which will take place this Thursday — would be a natural point for this to occur.

However, according to the BBC:

...it is unlikely that the new agreement will sever the links between the US government and Icann entirely.

Rod Beckstrom, president and chief of the organization, said in a letter to Congress last week that it would seek to maintain a "long term, formal relationship with the United States Government".

This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.

Topics: Government US, Browser, Government

David Meyer

About David Meyer

David Meyer is a freelance technology journalist. He fell into journalism when he realised his musical career wouldn't pay the bills. David's main focus is on communications, as well as internet technologies, regulation and mobile devices.

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24 comments
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  • Obama is selling us out

    only a peace monger like Obama could cede US sovereignty to UN.
    It's time to elect a real American in 2012!
    Linux Geek
    • fully agree...

      what a clown he is. Oh the savior, savior of what damnit? Selling us down the river?? Is that what people call hope and change? More like dope and change.
      OhTheHumanity
    • A 'real American', like the ones who helped offshore jobs, yes?

      :rolleyes:

      :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

      I vastly prefer President Obama to half the "real Americans" elected in the last 40 years.
      HypnoToad72
      • Maybe it has somthing to do with......

        with the free market? Ever thought of that? Also you want to keep the U.S. standard of living down so we can house manufacturing jobs that are money losers when produced in the U.S. which would bring many corporations to little profit and decrease their competitive edge? Oh i know they are all evil, but look around you and see how many jobs they provide this country. Also ever think about how the unions pushed many companies to move their operations overseas by asking huge wages for mindless work? No one should make $50/hour working on a line, its just dumb and very wasteful for a company to pay that absurd amount. I know reality gets in the way, but you like Obama just don't get it and see everything with your damn "emotional" cap on.

        And if you think turning over the internet to the U.N. is good, i will have to say you are a bumber sticker kind of guy/girl with not much going on in the thinking department.
        OhTheHumanity
        • Actually, I keep reading about half a million jobs being lost every month

          I'm not sure if I want to address every nuance to your post because, quite honestly, none of it adds up.

          You piss and moan about iCann yet companies are robbing Americans of livelihoods. It's not about education, since the quality of many goods coming over is poor - melamine, toothpaste, drywall, toy recalls... Windows Vista... you've only been reading the media selectively, haven't you?

          $50/hr is too much for a worker to make, yes. How much money should a bank CEO get? I mean, you want to talk about how much of a wage is too high. Especially when the same folks telling you and I to "pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps" are being bailed out... BY OUR TAX DOLALRS. Oh, I see, you like double standards. Fair enough...

          Wake up.


          Oh, who's doing what for $50/hr? Heck, where are those job openings?
          HypnoToad72
          • Look.....

            sorry you don't see it my way. Want a job like that just go ask some seasoned workers at the auto companies. You probably think raising taxes will help grow the economy too, so you can try to convince someone else. And sorry I don't want to live in a boring everything is exactly the same country. Some people work harders than others and people should reap the rewards. Sure there is bad apples everywhere, so try not to take a few examples and stereotype everyone like you claim you would never do.
            OhTheHumanity
        • Oh, can you define "competitive edge"?

          And what industry do you work in?

          When what has happened to millions happens to you, and I suspect you're a "Libertarian", how will you try to shift blame onto everyone else, because we all do that? (The difference being, I read charts and graphs. You listen to overpaid babblers like Rush Coulter.)
          HypnoToad72
        • I don't know how much proof you'll want,

          (like having the Empire State Building filled with printouts from every conceivable source won't be enough for you)

          http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/04/news/economy/green_jobs/index.htm?postversion=2009060412

          Those folks aren't being paid $50/hr. Even after insurance coverage, which isn't a "wage" regardless of how you attempt to spin it, it's not $50/hr.

          And if you were hot to trot like GM and everyone else, who complain about insurance and health care costs, you'd be for single-payer and public option programs too. Funny how they've been quiet about the issue... we'll see how all that pans out when the time comes.

          Oh, and before you say "Government can't do anything right", I'll say only that people need to think about who they elect. Three of the four people between 1980 and 2000 who were president certainly racked up enough national debt and engaged in plenty of nefarious activity and I'm not talking about an x-rated act... or doesn't any of that count? Anything wrong with the country is always due to the Democrats and Republicans' "deficits don't matter" attitude is saintly??? Not to mention, people do learn from their ambient environment. Maybe they're just seeing what the government does and think that's okay too. Maybe it is. Who are we to judge?

          *sigh*
          HypnoToad72
    • Agree completely

      This is a huge mistake.

      This college professor seems to stuck in his theoretical world. Obama like his liberal friends seem to believe that the US should have no more power and influence in the world than any other nation.

      This is happening because Neville Obama and his friends actually believe that appeasement works. Those he's trying to appease are laughing at him.

      We give repressive governments (China, many Muslim nations) any kind of control and freedom of speech on the internet is dead.

      Unfortunately our ignorant neighbors voted these fools into office and now we must all suffer for it for years to come.
      Tim Patterson
    • John McCain is selling us out

      only a peace monger like John McCain could cede US
      sovereignty to UN. It's time to elect a real
      American in 2012!
      Grayson Peddie
      • Mcain is a Republican Obama, vote anti incumbent

        Until the republicans remember that conservatives and rational people remember that they have been lied to by these republican democrat wannabes they all deserve to drop like flies along with any other incumbent you can vote against. Give me a viable third party. As of Bush V2 I never vote incumbent anymore as voting for these clowns and expecting different results is just a little stupid don't you think?
        LWEM
        • I didn't voite for George W. Bush.

          I didn't vote him during 2000 (I was almost 18 by
          late November) and I didn't vote any candidate
          around 2004. I will not vote for Republicans.

          I really wish Hillary Clinton (Democrat) serve as
          a President of United States, but my money got
          wasted for contribution and Obama won over
          Clinton. :(
          Grayson Peddie
    • If you want a Republican President...

      ...I'll be giving up on my American citizenship.
      Grayson Peddie
      • Just curious....

        did you cede a couple years ago when Bush was in office? Or did you just become a citizen when Obama got in office?

        Just curious. I actually dislike both Republican and Democrats, but I don't threaten to ditch the country when either gets elected.
        Larsix
        • I was born in Florida, USA.

          I live through the times from 1982 until now.
          Grayson Peddie
          • Yeah.....

            I think your too intrenched in an idealogy to see reality. Please leave the country if you see fit, but can't we just leave each person to become who he/she wants to become. I think you misunderstand the term freedom, which is sorely lacking in our current society. We are in an era of big government from both parties. Do I see better liberties with Obama? Not at all and please explain why you think they are?
            OhTheHumanity
      • Excellent

        The liberties of the USA are best enojoyed by those that deserve them, and are willing to believe in and protect their country, not just a political party. A central American country would seem like a comfortable place for you.

        Good riddance.

        (No, this response does not come from a Republican. Not even close.)
        KTLA
  • Huge Mistake

    This is a very bad idea. Whenever we cede control to the 'world,' the worlds tin horn disctators make a mess of it.

    This should have stayed a US item. I think Obama will live to regret this move. I think America will certainly live to regret it - as we live with the shame of what the 'world' is going to do to stiffle web based dissent.
    Fark
    • Well, we'll see what happens.

      Be sure to let us know if we're proven wrong.
      HypnoToad72
      • "we" as being

        those of us who don't agree with you 100%. :)
        HypnoToad72