OT> ISPs Call for Openness in New Internet Governance Organization
LOS ANGELES (Oct. 12) BUSINESS WIRE
-Oct. 12, 1998--The Internet Service
Providers' Consortium (ISP/C), the largest
trade association of small- to mid-size ISPs
in the world, today joined with numerous
other members of the Internet community in
urging the Department of Commerce not to
transfer U.S. government control and assets
related to the Domain Name System (DNS)
to any organization until it meets the criteria
outlined in the so-called "White Paper."
The White Paper, a U.S. Government
document that outlines the creation of a new
non-profit organization created by the private
sector to take over the management
functions of the DNS currently performed
under U.S. Government contract by the
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
Kevin Crocker, MBA and CFO of The Internet
Consortium Corp. offered:
"The proposed DNS organization appears to
be a monopoly in both literal and financial
senses. There are no checks and balances
to ensure proper financial control, review and
reporting. One decision by the new
organization to raise the rates on a single
service could easily send shockwaves
through the entire internet industry, raising
the cost of services for Internet users
everywhere."
Roxanne Loveday, president of the ISP/C
had this to say:
"The White Paper calls for private bottom-up
coordination, openness, and transparency.
These features are present in the documents
produced by the Boston Working Group.
Their work reflects the views and consensus
reached by many of the countless
participants in the International Forum on the
White Paper."
The International Forum on the White Paper,
a non-partisan, all volunteer effort, held a
series of meetings worldwide to bring all
interested parties together for the purpose of
discussing the White Paper, and to attempt
to arrive at consensus regarding the
structure and function of the new
organization.
"The Boston Working Group's documents
correct many of the most serious
deficiencies of the IANA Draft V proposal in
the areas of openness, accountability, and
fiscal responsibility," said Deb Howard,
executive director of the ISP/C.
The Boston Working Group (BWG), a group
comprised of several participants within the
IFWP process, has outlined a set of
proposed changes to the current draft
documents for the creation of the new
organization offered by IANA, and has
submitted them to the Department of
Commerce for review, and public comment.
The original documents and the proposed
changes are available on the Department of
Commerce's Internet Web site at:
ntia.doc.gov.
Charles Smith, Chair of the Board of the
ISP/C, stated:
"IANA has repeatedly refused to participate
in open negotiations with other interested
and affected stakeholders to create the
documents, and to select the Interim Board
for the new organization. The documents,
and the proposed board members are the
product of IANA and those that have chosen
to engage in private negotations for their own
private advantage. Anyone that has chosen
not to, or has not been asked to engage in
such negotations has effectively been denied
a voice in the creation of the new
organization, which is contrary to the most
fundamental principles outlined in the White
Paper."
About the ISP/C
The Internet Service Providers' Consortium is
a not-for-profit corporation with over 230
members in the ISP industry. With its
business office located in Venice, Calif.,
USA, the ISP/C's international membership
extends across North America, Europe,
Central America, South America and Asia.
As the largest trade association of small-
and mid-size ISPs, the ISP/C welcomes
inquiries and support from all interested
parties. For further information, look up its
web site located at ispc.org.
|
