[ga] ITU wants to wiggle into Internet domain name space

[Joe Baptista <baptista@dot-god.com>]

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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