UK Government consults on ICANN

Based in California, ICANN is the not-for-profit organisation that co-ordinates the internet's Domain Name System (DNS). In February 2002, it announced a review of its mission, funding and relationship with governments. The UK Government, along with many others, is working with ICANN on this programme of reform.

The consultation seeks the views of the UK internet community - businesses, internet companies and domain name users - on how ICANN should be reformed and how Governments can best support the important work of ICANN.

Douglas Alexander said yesterday:

"The Domain Name system is a key part of the internet's infrastructure. ICANN performs a very important role, co-ordinating key functions of the domain name system and has achieved a number of successes since it was created in 1998. But like any innovative and new organisation, it is right that it undertakes a reform programme. UK, along with other Governments and key stakeholders, is keen to help ICANN in this process."

ICANN's President has called for ICANN to become an effective and global public private partnership with ICANN rooted in the private sector but with the support of Governments. The UK Government said that it supports this approach.

The following are among the questions in the Government’s consultation:

• How should the user/consumer input best be represented in ICANN?
• What do you think about Governments contributing to ICANN?
• How should the public policy issues of the domain name system (such security, privacy or competition) best be addressed at the global level?
• What you do think Governments’ involvement in the Domain Name System should be?
• Should some or all of ICANN’s current functions be performed by a treaty based multi-governmental organisation?
• How should IP address allocation be handled in the new ICANN structure?

Comments can be sent to [email protected] not later than 14th june