Reflections on this ICANN business

ICANN is an organization that the U.S. Government created to privatize and internationalize the distribution of internet domains.  Originally, this duty fell to the Department of Commerce, but, because of something called a “White Paper,” they wanted it to become a global organization to reflect the international nature of the internet.  ICANN developed an organizational structure (board, president, funding, etc) and spawned some watchdog groups.  The board invited people who had concern about ICANN’s operating procedures to join so that ICANN would not become brutally monopolistic.  Very little drama ensued: some non-roman alphabet using nations had concern about the language bias in domain names, some nations had concern that it was still US-centric, and some Americans thought it was worthless to let other countries be in charge of domain name distribution.  Many oversight groups were created to make sure ICANN was being fair and the board specifically is comprised of representatives from many nations.

Basically, the US tried to move the assignment of internet domains to a not-as-US-centric  organization.  A valiant goal, and well played, also.  The group was inclusive of everyone, even dissenters, and tried to make it all fair.  As the internet is something used internationally as an integral part of culture and commerce, an international organization to distribute something as important to its function is a great idea.  To assuage the complaints, the organization should make itself as transparent as possible, and ensure fairness by continuing to broaden its scope and include as many interested and committed parties as possible without compromising the initial structure.  

It’s interesting to see the US soft power infiltrating things I don’t really think about, like how I bought my domain name.  The fact that even the smell of McDonalds spreads the American power center deters me from thinking about the less obvious but nevertheless important expressions of power and noting that the country is actively working towards globalization.  Now, is it globalization on American terms, or internationalizing the assignment process on the world’s terms?  This seems to be the problem that everyone needs to reconcile.