Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Overview
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the Internet – thereby ensuring the network's stable and secure operation. ICANN performs the actual technical maintenance work of the Central Internet Address pools and DNS root registries pursuant to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) function contract.
History
ICANN was created on September 18, 1998, and incorporated on September 30, 1998. It is headquartered in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. Its founding was prompted by a policy statement issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) called the "Green Paper" that was issued in January 1998. The Green Paper proposed certain actions designed to privatize the management of Internet names and addresses in consultation with stakeholders from the Internet Community.
Structure
ICANN is composed of an international board of directors. The board is structured in three main levels of organization: the Names Supporting Organization (NSO), the Address Supporting Organization (ASO), and the Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO). The six functional groups of the ICANN community participate in the Advisory Committees to the Board.
Functions
ICANN's primary principles of operation have been described as helping preserve the operational stability of the Internet; to promote competition; to achieve broad representation of the global Internet community; and to develop policies appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes.
Criticisms
ICANN has been criticized for a lack of transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes. The use of web-based public comment periods and the use of the ICANN Public Forum have been criticized as ineffective and token mechanisms for public input.