The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(Icann), the group which oversees internet technical matters,
promoted its accomplishments at a meeting in Kuala Lumpar, as it
seeks to refine its role in internet governance and become a
self-governing entity.
Topping that list of accomplishments was the group's approval of
its 2004-2005 budget, which is set to grow from $8.3m (£4.5m) this
year to $15.83m for the period covering 1 July to 30 June 2005,
said Icann chairman Vint Cerf.
"What is left is to finalise how that money will be contributed
by the various constituencies," Cerf said.
In early May, as part of the boost in its budget, Icann raised
the fees it charges domain registrars and said it has launched an
aggressive effort to find alternative sources of funds as it
prepares for self-rule.
The moved angered various groups such as Icann's partner, the
Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries (CENTR)
which called Icann's contribution request "unrealistic and
inappropriate".
Icann, a global non-profit organisation established in October
of 1998 is, through the auspices of the US Department of Commerce
(DOC), responsible for co-ordinating the internet's root server
system, generic and country code top-level domain (TLD) name system
management and IP (Internet Protocol) address space allocation.
Last September, the group signed a three-year memorandum of
understanding with the DOC's National Telecommunications and
Information Administration that, among other things, set out 24
stipulations to be completed that would allow Icann to be
completely independent and have full control over the US root
server infrastructure.
"It is important to point out that we have now completed seven
of those 24 different tasks that we need to finish," Cerf said. He
added that the group was able to conclude the meeting with a
"wonderful collection of achievements".
One of those achievements - as well as one of those 24 tasks -
was accomplished earlier in the week, when Icann announced it had
expanded the availability of IP addresses by adding next-generation
IPv6 technology to its root DNS (domain name system) servers.
The TLDs of Japan and Korea (.jp and .kr) became the first to
support IPv6, and France is expected to follow shortly.
Cerf and Icann president and chief executive officer Paul Twomey
also hailed Icann's policy co-ordination body, the Country-Code
Names Supporting Organisation (CCNSO).
The CCNSO was established as a way for national communities to
have influence in Icann, but some European countries, including the
UK, have refused to join the group, because off Icann's refusal to
spin off as an independent entity the group that manages the root
machines on the network, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
(IANA).
However, Twomey said he sees a growing acceptance of the CCNSO.
"People have come up to me [during the meeting] to say that they
plan on joining the CCNSO," he said.
The meeting in Kuala Lumpur also brought the creation of an
Icann advisory group on the use of Internationalised Domain Names
within the domain name system to further internet growth in new
languages and regions of the world.
Icann also highlighted its acknowledgement of AfriNIC, the
emerging African regional internet address registry, calling the
group's request for formal recognition from Icann, a historical
event in local control of African internet resources.
Laura Rohde writes for IDG News Service