ICANN May Mean You Can't
posted 16th June 2000

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is an NGO which was created after calls by the US government for a body to be set up to administer policy for the Internet name and address system (DNS). WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT ICANN? If we are not careful, ICANN will become a 'World Trade Organization in cyberspace', defining policy and legislating changes to the Internet which we will all be affected by, behind closed doors. According to ICANNWatch.org, "a number of recent actions that ICANN has taken -- e.g., -- e.g., imposing a fee on all domain name registrants, adopting procedures favoring corporate trademarks in domain name disputes -- suggests that ICANN has already moved far beyond the realm of "technical management" of the DNS." Nothing is of greater importance to the future of the Internet than the way in which ICANN performs its role as manager of the Domain Name System (DNS). WHAT CAN YOU DO? This summer five additional members will be elected to ICANN's governing board. The current ten board members were appointed by corporate and technical councils; the five new members will be elected by a global "At Large Membership." We need to register to vote in the At Large Elections, nominate pro-development/civil society candidates for the Board, and get them elected. In this way we can break the ring of secrecy that could surround a more homogeneous ICANN. Many civil society groups in North America at least, are mobilized around the ICANN issue, but only one Board member will be elected from that region. Outside of North America 4 additional Board seats will be elected: for Latin America, Europe, Africa/Middle East, and East Asia.

FIRST STEP: REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE ICANN SITE Go to:

members.icann.org/join_now.htm

and just sign up. It will take you five minutes. Anyone can sign up online to become a member at large and vote for the ICANN Board. ICANN has not set a closing date for registration, but it will probably only be possible to register up until late June or July at the latest. So register to vote now! Remember, by participating we grasp the chance to have a significant impact on ICANN for civil society. BUT there is also the risk of legitimating a WTO-like organization. Therefore, it is very important to WIN the elections by getting enough people to vote for the candidates you want to support.

READING: For more information on ICANN, visit: www.apc.org/english/rig hts/governance/ for updates on an APC ICANN campaign www.icann.org - the ICANN Website www.ICANNwatch.org - the ICANN watchdog site www.cpsr.org/dns - background from the Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility..