ICANN

Full Title

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

History

The history of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN) is closely tied to the development of the Internet itself.

• Origins: ICANN was established in 1998 as a nonprofit organization to manage the technical and policy aspects of the Domain Name System (DNS) with entrepreneur and philanthropist Esther Dyson as founding chairwoman. It evolved from the Internet * Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which was originally managed by Jon Postel, a key figure in the early days of the Internet2.
• Purpose: ICANN's role includes coordinating IP address allocation, managing DNS root zones, and introducing new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Its mission is to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet.
• Frustration with User Input: Dyson noted that ICANN's efforts to recruit and incorporate input from average internet users proved "daunting, frustrating, and insurmountable". https://icannwiki.org/Esther_Dyson#
• Perceived Bias Towards Industry: She believes ICANN's decisions, particularly regarding the new gTLD program, primarily benefit the domain name business, rather than end-users, leading to confusion and higher costs.
• Global Transition: In 2016, ICANN transitioned from U.S. government oversight to a global multistakeholder model, marking a significant milestone in its history.
• Expansion: Over the years, ICANN has expanded its scope to address issues like internationalization of the DNS and cybersecurity.
• Chaos of naming: In Ms. Dyson's written testimony, which can be read here, she recognizes that she is coming as a private, informed citizen, but that she was largely invited as ICANN's founding Chairwoman. She goes on to explain how she long supported the idea of new gTLDs, but has since changed her mind; she realized that new gTLDs would be confusing to the public, that they would not have sufficient oversight, and that the costs involved would benefit nobody but the registries and registrars. Ideally, Esther Dyson stated, she would like to see the gTLD program abandoned, but she also conceded that many people had told her that this was unrealistic. In lieu of abandoning the program, she recommended that the Senate ask ICANN to relaunch its consultation process with broader outreach in order to facilitate greater public knowledge and preparedness.