News, articles, radio, tv

News from October 2005:

31.10.2005
The ISP Column by Geoff Huston. There is little doubt that the Internet has formed part of the impetus for a revolutionary change in the nature of the global communications industry.
International Information Programs USINFO.STATE.GOV: Expanding Internet Access Must Remain World Focus at Summit.
Renew America Freedom of the internet threatened? U.S. helpless to stop it?
BIZCOMMUNITY.com: Domain names battle threatens Net. In the golden haze surrounding the mystic city of Tunisia, a small group of elite merchants of the information age will once again try to figure out the future of the Internet in November. They will fight out their agendas and try hard to make sense out of the ongoing cyber warfare.
Allafrica.com Internet Governance Still Burning Issue @ Wsis-05. FOLLOWING the failure to reach a consensus at the third Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom-3) held in Geneva, last month, Internet Governance would still be a burning issue at the second phase of WSIS, just few weeks away.
Allafrica.com: Stockholm Collaborates With WSIS On "Project in Africa"
Allafrica.com : Internet Governance: Experts Urge Active African Role
A letter to UN Secretary-General by IFEX has been responded . In the response Kofi Annan makes clear that many of the serious concerns of civil society, which the Tunisian government continues to describe as unfounded, are shared at the highest level of the UN.
Worldsummit2005.de: WSIS and Beyond - A dialogue between Soenke Zehle & Geert Lovink.
Worldsummit2005.de: NGOs plan Citizens Summit in Tunis. A coalition of civil society organizations today announced they will hold a major parallel event when the WSIS summit meets in Tunis.
futureZone ORF.at (in German): UNO-Internet-Gipfel im Zensurland Tunesien. Der Weltinformationsgipfel zum freien Austausch von Meinungen findet in Tunesien statt, wo Websites blockiert und Online-Oppositionelle verurteilt werden.

27.10.2005
Will the Internet become the UNTERNET? From TechCentralStation.com: The United Nations wants control of the internet. At its November 2005 meeting in Tunis, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will deliberate its "second phase" of creating a bureaucracy to manage internet governance.
Who should control ICANN? From eWeek: The regular meetings of the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers-known as ICANN, the folks who make Internet domain names work as well as they do-have long been one of the tech community's better held secrets.
United States Says No U.N. Body Should Control Internet Ambassador Gross to discuss WSIS summit during Internet chat November 2
Internet Governance: Experts Urge Active African Role As the controversy over who controls the Internet deepens as a run off to the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), two Nigerian Internet experts have urged active role by Africa nations on issues relating to Internet governance moreso since the Internet holds the key to the future. One of them also canvassed a Nigerian national position on the issue to be known to all.
American Chronicle, "Doolittle: Don't Hand the Internet Over to U.N" In an effort to ensure the Internet remains a tax-free, global communications network governed by the principles of free speech, Congressional Internet Caucus member Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Roseville) introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 268) to underscore the need for the day-to-day operations of the Internet to be maintained in the United States.

24.10.2005
ICANN and VeriSign Announce End to Long-Standing Dispute ICANN today announced that it has reached an proposed agreement to end all pending litigation over its long-standing dispute with VeriSign. The proposed agreement documents are being posted for public comment and are subject to final approval of the ICANN Board. This settlement will clear the way for a new and productive public/private partnership in coordinating technical management of the Internet's domain name system.
VeriSign and ICANN strike monster net deal VeriSign has dropped all its lawsuits against internet overseeing organisation ICANN, agreed to hand over ownership of the root zone, and in return been awarded control of all dotcoms until 2012.
Reuters: VeriSign to control ".com" domain until 2012 VeriSign Inc. said on Monday it would maintain control of the lucrative ".com" Internet domain until 2012 in return for dropping an antitrust lawsuit against the nonprofit body that oversees the Internet's addressing system.
USA Today: Internet body in settlement with VeriSign The Internet's key oversight agency said Monday it had tentatively agreed to settle a longstanding legal dispute with VeriSign Inc., a company that exerts significant control over how people find websites and send e-mail.
From PR Newswire, "ICANN and VeriSign Announce End to Long-Standing Dispute"ICANN today announced that it has reached an agreement to end all pending litigation over its long-standing dispute with VeriSign. The agreement documents are being posted for public comment and are subject to final approval of the ICANN Board. This settlement will clear the way for a new and productive public/private partnership in coordinating technical management of the Internet's domain name system.
Xinhua: ICANN, Verisign end legal dispute
From InformationWeek, "Congress Wants U.S. To Retain Grip On Internet" A trio of lawmakers in the House of Representatives has joined a Senate colleague in calling for the United States to retain oversight control of the Internet, as a coming showdown looms with countries wanting more say in how the Web is run.
From Reason Online, "The Root of the Problem"The Internet, in John Perry Barlow's famously purple description, is a happy anarchy "naturally independent" of government; it is an "act of nature and it grows itself through our collective actions." That was always, alas, a slightly starry-eyed description of the Pentagon's most precocious baby, which is why a growing conflict over who will manage the Net's basic virtual infrastructure will take center stage next month in Tunis, Tunisia, at the second meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society, where some are proposing that the United Nations take the helm.
From PR Newswire, " VeriSign and ICANN Reach Agreement, Settle Lawsuit"VeriSign, Inc.(Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced it has reached agreement to settle its lawsuit with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
From the International Herald Tribune, "Preserving the Web of the free"There is a move afoot at the United Nations and in the European Union to get the United States to give up control of the Internet - a medium that America created and on which it now critically relies.

24.10.2005:
The web goes dotty
CPA not violated by foreign firm's dot-us registration ( with subscription). BNA's Electronic Commerce & Law Report reports that a Connecticut court has ruled that the registration of a domain name in the .us top-level domain space by a foreign company, acting on behalf of its U.S.-based subsidiary, does not amount to "bad faith" under the federal Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
World leaders converge in Tunisia for IT summit
UK resists radical net overhaulThe firm that runs the .uk net domain name, Nominet, says there should be no radical change to the way that the internet is managed globally.
Nominet votes for Argentinian solution to net ownershipIn an historically unusual decision, the company running all .uk internet domains, Nominet, has voted for an Argentinian solution to the current crisis over internet ownership.
Coleman introduces sense of senate resolution to preserve the security & stability of the internet Coleman fights proposal to hand control of Internet governance to the United Nations, citing threat to communication freedom and enterprise from dangers of censorship and political suppression
Who Will Control the Internet? by Kenneth Neil Cukier. Foreign governments want control of the Internet transferred from an American NGO to an international institution. Washington has responded with a Monroe Doctrine for our times, setting the stage for further controversy.
Who owns the Internet? 1647 is the number of my newly acquired monster on the road. By law I am the owner of this car and have a certificate issued by a government authority to prove my ownership. 5766 is the number of my car I sold yesterday and the ownership of this car will now be transferred to the new owner in the next few days. Elementary isn't it? Well, not so elementary when it comes to the ownership of the Internet.
Fighting for custody of the Net (blog) Custody battles are always nasty. And from the looks of things, a recent proposal to shift control of the Internet to the U.N. will be no better. Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota has brought a resolution before the U.S. Senate that would back the Bush administration's stance against the international body taking over control of the Web's infrastructure--a move that is set to be discussed in Tunisia next month.
I think ICANN (blog) Does the internet belong to America, or to the world? That is the essential question being asked by the UN. They are seeking to have ICANN, the body that governs internet addresses, absorbed into the UN's ITU. Why? Because UN countries do not like the fact they can't influence the internet (such as President Bush stopping .xxx domains from being established). They also dislike not being able to tax commerce on the internet.
Bush administration opposes U.N. Net control In a sign that traditionally obscure discussions about Internet control have taken on new prominence, President Bush broached the topic in a meeting this week with European Commission President Jose Barroso
Keep U.S. control of Internet-politicians Three lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives called on Friday for the Internet's core infrastructure to remain under U.S. control, echoing similar language introduced in the Senate earlier this week.
Forgotten Principles of Internet Governance By Karl Auerbach. Suddenly internet governance has become a hot topic. Words and phrases fly back and forth but minds rarely meet. We do not have discussion, we have chaos. We are not moving forwards towards a resolution. It’s time to step back and review some basic principles.
CNN on US-UN U.S. lawmakers are urging the Bush administration to resist a push from other countries to shift control of the Internet to the United Nations, arguing that such a move would stifle innovation and free expression.
Mozambique sets up committee for November WSIS in Tunisia
Конгресс США рекомендует не отдавать Интернет "нестабильным парням" Американские конгрессмены порекомендовали исполнительной власти США противостоять попыткам отдать Интернет под международный контроль.

17.10.2005:
EU Commissioner Reding speech Oct. 17, 2005: Opportunities and challenges of the Ubiquitous World and some words on Internet Governance

14.10.2005:
Xeni Jardin on the National Public Radio There are international efforts to move central control of the Internet from the United States to a United Nations group. Day to Day technology contributor Xeni Jardin reports that some critics of the proposed move question whether it would give too much control to countries that don't embrace the idea of open information.
A Public Briefing on ICANN, Internet Governance and Africa
Exclusive: EU/US internet governance row heats up Private sector parties, including Nominet and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), were asked to leave the room during a debate over the future of the internet in Geneva last week, sources attending the event have revealed to vnunet.com.
Fairness Required in Internet Governance, By Linkserve Boss As the controversy over the different positions held by two erstwhile, the US and the EU on the administration of the Internet continues, the CEO of the Linkserve, Mr. Chima Onyekwere has said net should be administered fairly.
11.10.2005
From News With Views, "U.N. WANTS CONTROL OF THE INTERNET"The UN World Summit on the Information Society met for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland on Dec. 10-12, 2003 for what would begin a heated international debate over control of the Internet. The outcome of the meeting was actually scripted before the gavel calling the Summit to order ever tapped the podium. For the past decade the UN has been bombarded by complaints from every totalitarian regime in the world that wanted to place cyberborders along the information superhighway roadblocks to communications with the free world. The voiceless anger of the anti-democracy, anti-free enterprise governments of the communist and Muslim worlds and the third world banana dictators that stewed in silent rage for years until their anger exploded into a festering, open sore that was hostile towards anything American because the United States refused to share control of the Internet which its scientists created with the other nations of the world who want to impose their will and prejudices on the rest of us.
From BBC News, "Net power struggle nears climax"It is seen as arrogant and determined to remain the sheriff of the world wide web, regardless of whatever the rest of the world may think.
From ElectricNews.net, "Nations squabble over internet management"The meeting, which is being held in preparation of the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis next month, degenerated into a farce when delegates argued over the right of the US to control the internet's addressing system.
From LifeSite.net, "Control of Internet Being Taken Away From US For Questionable Reasons"The European Union announced plans last week to end the unilateral control of the Internet currently exercised by the United States.
From EgyptElection.com, "The US has got an image problem when it comes to the internet"It is seen as arrogant and determined to remain the sheriff of the world wide web, regardless of whatever the rest of the world may think.
From IPSNews.net, "The Struggle for Real Control Over the Virtual World"The real world is involved in a battle for control over the virtual world, one of the central issues to be dealt with at the Nov. 16-18 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in the Tunisian capital.
From Circle ID, "A Further Look Into ORSN"Most commentators on Vixie's astounding message have gotten sidetracked. People don't seem to see the most important feature of his statement: Vixie's endorsement of Open Root Server Network (ORSN) is based on explicitly political criteria. As ORSN says on its web site: "The U.S.A (under the current or any future administration) are theoretically and practically able to control вЂњourвЂќ accesses to contents of the Internet and are also able to limit them. A manipulation of the Root zone could cause that the whole name space .DE is not attainable any more for the remaining world - outside from Germany."
11.10.2005
From The Washington Times, "U.S. dominance in Internet regulation under fire"A growing bloc of rich and poor nations wants to strip the U.S. government of its role managing the Internet's most basic infrastructure and hand it over to a still-undefined international coalition.
From Webhosting.info, " ICANN Announces New Staff Appointments in IANA"The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), recently announced the appointment of two new staff members.
From AustralianIT, "Moves to give UN net control"PLANS by the UN to take control of the internet have descended into high farce, with delegates at a meeting in Geneva tabling nine different proposals but failing to reach agreement.
From Blogcritics.org, "Say Goodbye to Internet Freedom - the UN is Coming"In a recent meeting of the Working Group on Internet Governance in Geneva harsh words were exchanged between representatives of the US government and representatives of the UK and other European countries over the issue of who controls or should control the internet.
30.09.2005
From The register Tunis World Summit in great dangerThe first ever World Summit on the Internet is "in great danger", according to the president of its preparatory committees, unless governments pull out all stops in the next two days.
From WSIS: Who gets to run the internet?The question over who will be granted overall control of the internet from next year is proving the most controversial part of a worldwide conference being held in Geneva as we speak.
From The register, Our Man in Geneva asks the WSIS questionsThis week, world+dog is in Geneva debating the future of the internet. Kieren McCarthy, our man on the spot, has recorded his interviews with some of the key protagonists, broadcast in this radio report. He calls it a Podcast and so, we guess, must we.
From Allafrica.com, Tunisia's Freedom of Expression Questioned"Tunisia is not a suitable place to hold a United Nations World Summit" according to the latest report of the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) released two months before WSIS, scheduled to take place in Tunis, 16-18 November 2005.
From Podcast on Oversight of ICANN
From blog.lextext.com, Podcast for September 27, 2005 by Bret FausettWhen the World Summit on the Information Society talks about creating a "new forum" what are they talking about? What is this new forum? What will it do? What power will it have?
From Computer Professionals For Social Responsibility, WSIS PrepCom 3 Parallel Events on Internet GovernanceOrganized by Computer Professional for Social Responsibility (CPSR), held at the UN in Geneva. The purpose of these events is to facilitate focused, open, multistakeholder discussions on two major issues that were discussed in the report of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) and are prominent on the WSIS agenda for PrepCom-3 and beyond: 1) the possible creation of a new Forum for Internet governance dialogue, monitoring, and analysis; and 2) the possible reform of the current arrangements for Oversight of the Internets core resources (e.g. the root zone file and ICANNs Government Advisory Committee). All attendees are very much welcome to participate in these discussions.
From Allafrica.com ng: Effect of WSIS On NigeriaTWO years ago when the first phase of the WSIS-03 came to a close in Geneva, Switzerland, little did any one give Africa let alone Nigeria a chance to record much development in the use of ICT that impacted so much on the people before the second phase.
From World Peace Herald, U.S. rejects international control of InternetThe United States said at the outset of global talks on information technology yesterday that it will fight attempts to put the United Nations or any international group in charge of the Internet.
From CBS News, World Wide (Web) Takeover"In my opinion, freedom of speech seems to be a politically sensitive issue. A lot of policy matters are behind it." So observed Houlin Zhao, the man who wants to control the greatest forum for free expression in history. Zhao, a director of the ITU and a former senior Chinese-government official, is a leader in the UN's effort to supplant the United States government in the supervision of the Internet. At a series of conferences called WSIS, held under the aegis of the ITU, and set to culminate in Tunis this November, the U.N. has floated a series of proposals for doing exactly that.
From Out-law.com, WSIS: Who gets to run the internet?The question over who will be granted overall control of the internet from next year is proving the most controversial part of a worldwide conference being held in Geneva as we speak.
From InfoWorld, Internet governance remains sticking point Internet governance was a contentious issue at the first phase of WSIS in December 2003 and, judging by the preparatory talks currently under way in Geneva, the issue will remain red hot at the second phase of the summit in November.
Fro Globeandmail.com, UN defends Tunisia tech summitProtesters say the north African nation has been repeatedly accused of rights abuses that include blocking Web sites it dislikes
From OneWorld South Asia, OWSA amplifies grassroots voices at the WSISOneWorld South Asia on behalf of the grassroots caucus organized a side event Missing Grassroots Voices at PrepCom 3 on September 27th. Grassroots voices have always been missing from policy making fora. The event started with a film screening on grassroots people sharing their development concerns and how ICTs could offer possible solutions to them. This was followed by a presentation by Mr Basudev Dhungana who is a grassroots community worker from Nepal and part of the OneWorld official delegation to PrepCom 3.
From OneWorld South Asia, WSIS still to thrash out issues of Internet governanceThis is the last preparatory meeting before the final summit in November in Tunisia, and is expected to present the final documents that will lay down the principles of creating an information society based on equity, freedom and inclusion. The plan of action is expected to lay down the steps that would be taken to put these principles into practice. The last two years have seen a series of meetings with participation from a variety of stakeholders including governments, international organisations and civil society organisations.
DemokratistrГ¤van hotar internet(Finnish)BГҐde i FN och i mГҐnga enskilda lГ¤nder diskuteras i dag med patos - och ibland med indignation - vem som bestГ¤mmer Г¶ver internet och vem som Г¤r bГ¤st skickad att gГ¶ra det. Diskussionen Г¤r inte fГ¶rvГҐnande. Moderna samhГ¤llen blir i allt stГ¶rre omfattning beroende av internet samtidigt som de enskilda staternas inflytande Г¤r begrГ¤nsat. ReflexmГ¤ssigt Г¤r det lГ¤tt att tycka att styrningen av internet borde vara en frГҐga fГ¶r FN och fГ¶r regeringar. Det Г¤r dock en fГ¶r snabbt dragen slutsats.
From The register, "WSIS: Who gets to run the internet?"The question over who will be granted overall control of the internet from next year is proving the most controversial part of a worldwide conference being held in Geneva as we speak.
From IT WorldCanada, "Information Architecture"Internet governance was a contentious issue at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2003 and, judging by the preparatory talks currently under way in Geneva, the issue will remain red hot at the second phase of the summit in November.
From MacWorld.com, " Internet governance remains sticking point"Internet governance was a contentious issue at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2003 and, judging by the preparatory talks currently under way in Geneva, the issue will remain red hot at the second phase of the summit in November.
25.09.2005
From Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD input to WSISLatest OECD reports on internet governance and financial mechanisms, security and promoting ICTs for development, issues which will be discussed at the WSIS Tunis Summit that runs from 16-18 November 2005:
From ISOC@WSIS, Commentary from ISOC delegates at WSIS PrepCom-3ISOC has a blog running with commentary from ISOC delegates at WSIS PrepCom-3
ITU: Internet Society Statement to WSIS PrepCom 3 Sub-committee A on Internet Governance
From United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, UN ICT Task Force Series 8: The World Summit on the Information Society: Moving from the Past into the FutureAny world summit is challenging to design and to organize: the World Summit on the Information Society exceptionally so. This book describes, through the voices of some of its major actors, essential parts of the complex undertaking of the WSIS, from conception to realization.
From Bret Fausett's Lextext blog: Ambassador David Gross, U.S. Department of State: "The United Nations will not be in charge of the Internet. Period."
From Asia-Pacific Development Informatiom Programme, APDIP Releases China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Thailand Country Reports on Internet Governance APDIP's Open Regional Dialogue on Internet Governance initiative zooms in on the Internet governance issues, priorities and challenges faced by five countries in Asia.The reports show that all countries regard viruses, cyber attacks and spam as the most pressing issues for Internet governance. Issues on access, affordability, speed and reliability of the Internet feature high on the list of concerns in India, Indonesia and Thailand. While in India and Pakistan, more than two-thirds of the respondents regard the availability of local language software and local content as urgent concerns. Respondents from China are less concerned about this issue but are significantly more dissatisfied than those in other Asia-Pacific countries with the current system for allocating and managing IP numbers. The reports also detail the governance issues and opinions about two new and emerging technologies wireless Internet and Internet telephony.
From World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).-blog, Robert Guerra's Internet Governance - subcomittee notes - Sept 23Internet Governance - subcomittee notes - Sept 23 Report from SubCommittee A meeting on 23 September
PrepCom-3 (Geneva, 19-30 September 2005) - 23 September Chair of the Sub-Committee A (Internet Governance) - Chapter Three: Internet Governance Chairs paper
Robert Guerra's Internet Governance - subcomittee notes - Sept 22The notes give a country by country summary of their positions.
From Allafrica.com, Effect of WSIS On NigeriaSecond phase of the WSIS comes up in 54 days away in Tunis. Remmy Nweke reports that the processes have been a stimulae to development in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the country.
From ICT4Peace Report by Ambassador Stauffacher, William Drake, Paul Currion and Julia SteinbergerThis report aims to answer the following question: do ICTs have a special role in promoting peace? The examples of ICT use in warfare are well-known: propaganda, intelligence, communications and ICT-enable weapons systems. But can ICTs be used in other ways, by other actors, to diffuse a situation leading to conflict, help end a conflict, or allow the stabilisation of a post-conflict situation? These were the questions to be answered, at least partially, before the second phase of the Summit. In May 2004, I met with humanitarian consultant Paul Currion. Drawing on his experience and advice, we developed the framework for the ICT4Peace project. With the support of the Swiss Government Foreign Affairs and Department of Defense, and the interest of the former President of Finland Ahtisaari and Maurice Strong, I initiated the ICT4Peace project in 2004.
From Worldsummit2005.de, Drafting on "Internet Governance is startingAfter some days of general comments and discussions, the PrepCom will finally start drafting the Internet Governance chapter on Monday. Chairman Masood Khan this morning presented a paper as basis for further negotiations. Civil society is very upset about the clear danger it gets locked out of the drafting process again.
From Worldsummit2005.de, Governments Drop Serious Commitments to ImplementationThe PrepCom subcommittee that currently is working on the implementation and follow-up part of the summit documents today has dropped the language for serious follow-up to the summit. Civil Society groups were overrun by the accelerated speed of the negotiations and could not give their input anymore.
From Worldsummit2005.de, Civil Society Adapting to Changes in WSIS ProcessThe WSIS PrepCom has moved to subcommittee mode today and has started negotiations on Internet Governance and Implementation. Civil society groups have adapted to the new structure and are mirroring the negotiations now. They submitted their statements and made clear that they insist on a full and effective participation in any process following the Tunis summit. Governments at the moment are pretty open to this, it seems.
From EurekAlert, CERN/ITU/UNU help build momentum for African research and education networkingAs part of efforts to implement the outcome of the first WSIS, held in Geneva in 2003, the United Nations University (UNU ) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU ) and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN ) will hold an International Workshop on African Research and Education Networking to promote scientific cooperation with and within Africa, through the development of networking infrastructure. The event, to be hosted by CERN, takes place in Geneva from September 25-27, 2005.
From Worldsummit2005.de, Last Battle before the SummitThe third and last meeting of the Preparatory committee for the WSIS (PrepCom-3) has started two hours ago. The upcoming two weeks will see major struggles around the hot topics Internet Governance and summit follow-up. The chances for progress are less than slim, and civil society is already discussing if and when it should leave the official drafting exercise. In the meantime, the PrepCom was almost blocked over the non-accreditation of the NGO Human Rights in China.
From Heise online, WSIS: Scharfe Kritik an Gipfelgastgeber Tunesien(German) Unter dem Titel "Ist Tunesien noch ein Rechtsstaat?" haben gestern mehrere Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NGO) in Genf eine Konferenz Гјber die EinschrГ¤nkung der Versammlungs- und Meinungsfreiheit in Tunesien, Gastgeberland des bevorstehenden Weltgipfels der Informationsgesellschaft (WSIS) veranstaltet. Die Antwort der Journalistin und Autorin und Sprecherin des tunesischen Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) Sihem Bensedrine und verschiedener Mitstreiter auf die Frage der Gastgeber ist ein klares Nein.
From latinoamerICANN, A la mexicana, la posicion primera de la delegacion de Mexico sobre Internet Governance(Spanish)Aporte de la delegacion mexicana al subcomite A (Internet Governance), en el Marco de la PrepCom3
From latinoamerICANN, Posicion de Dawn en subcomite A (Internet Governance)(Spanish)Discurso de Magally Pazello, de DAWN (por el Internet Governance Caucus), en la sesion del dia 20 de Septiembre del Subcomite A (Internet Governance), durante la PrepCom3 en Ginebra.
From latinoamerICANN, Posicion Dominicana en el Subcomite A sobre Internet Governance(Spanish)Texto del Representante de Republica Dominicana en el Subcomite A (Internet Governance). El texto ha sido extraido de la grabaciРЎn de la sesiРЎn del dРњa 20.
From latinoamerICANN, a la colombiana, posicoin en el subcomite A sobre Internet Governance(Spanish)Texto del Representante de Colombia en el Subcomite A (Internet Governance). El texto ha sido extraido de la grabaciРЎn de la sesiРЎn del dРњa 20.
From latinoamerICANN, a la latina, discurso preliminar grulac(Spanish)Texto del Representante de GRULAC en el Subcomite A (Internet Governance). El texto ha sido extraido de la grabacion de la sesion del dРњa 20.
22.09.2005
From Swissinfo, Switzerland hosts Info Summit preparations PrepCom-3, the third and final preparatory meeting for the WSIS in November, got underway in Geneva on Monday.
From APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor, Africa's Common Position on Internet Governance - The Dakar ResolutionThe conference adopted "The establishment of a global consultation framework to review in depth the general policies on Internet Governance" and "The expansion and reinforcement of the existing institutions for Internet Governance to enable all stakeholders to participate and ensure Internet Governance is efficient, accountable, and democratic, and that Internet services and resources are distributed in an equitable manner among all actors and all continents." Other recommendations included the "Reinforcement of the role of the GAC of ICANN in all Internet Public policy development issues"; "African Member States should set up root server instances to facilitate acces" and "Participation of specialized African institutions in technical Internet Governance bodies".
From International Telecommunication Union, GLOCOM on behalf of the WSIS Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus": Response to the WGIG ReportThis document identifies "public policy issues that are relevant to Internet governance and assessing the adequacy of existing governance arrangements". Issues covered include Adapting and implementing WSIS principles; Internet Stability, Security and 'Cybercrime'; Intellectual property rights; Privacy and consumer rights and interconnection costs.
From Internet Governance Project Dialogue, Global Dialogue on Internet Governance!The Global Deliberative Dialogue on Internet Governance is now underway and participants from all over the world are engaing in this stimulating discussion. Thank you for taking the time to join us. The goal of the Dialogue is to broaden multistakeholder participation in the global discussion about Internet governance and to provide a mechanism for input into the final Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom-3) for the Tunis phase of the UN WSIS.
From Globeandmail.com, When will the Net be divided among nations?ICANN from the start has made some very stringent and often very weird policies about such issues as the golden keys. Now its global authority is being challenged, and such fights could divide the power of this controlling body, and any adverse outcome will simply split the Internet.
From International Telecommunication Union, Preparatory Committee 3 (PrepCom-3), 19-30 September 2005, Geneva, SwitzerlandThe final preparatory meeting for the forthcoming Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society will take place at the Palais de Nations, Geneva, from 19-30 September 2005. The meeting, which is expected to welcome some 1'500 participants from UN agencies, the private sector, civil society and the media, will work to finalize the working documents of the Summit, scheduled to take place in Tunis from November 16-18. Key agenda items include: Internet governance, Financing mechanisms and WSIS follow-up and implementation.
From International Telecommunication Union, Draft "Food for Thought" for the informal consultations on Internet Governance This paper was presented by the chairman-designate of PrepCom-3 Sub-Committee A, Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan. This document has been prepared in order to promote discussion during the informal consultations meeting. It has no status within the PrepCom process. The paper/approach will be refined in the light of the informal consultations on September 6. The paper has 2 parts; Part 1: Possible structure and inputs for Chapter three of the Operational Part of the Tunis Final Document(s) on Internet Governance and Part 2: Proposals for working methods of Sub-Committee A
From The Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Caribbean Internet Governance Forum in Guyana, 5-6 September, 2005The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in collaboration with CARICOM held a form on the issue of Internet Governance for the Caribbean at a Forum scheduled for 5 to 6 September, 2005 in Georgetown, Guyana. The Forum was intended to introduce the topic, point to the issues that the region could realistically address and chart the course of action that Caribbean countries should take. The anticipated target audience included Caribbean Government policy makers, regulators, Internet service and content providers, carriers, other industry practitioners and users.
From Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Regional internet governance task force among Georgetown forum recommendations (news release)Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists from the Caribbean concluded their recent Internet Governance Forum in Georgetown, Guyana, with a number of recommendations aimed at strengthening the Region's involvement in the governance and use of the Internet.
From KnowProSE.com, Caribbean Internet Governance Forum in Guyana roundupFor a roundup on blogs covering the Internet Governance Forum in Guyana see:
From The Christian Science Monitor, UN control of internet? Try again.As revolutionary as the Internet has been, its largest effects may be yet to come: as an inexhaustible library; as a superefficient vehicle of commerce; as a way for machines and electronic devices anywhere to talk with each other or people. A UN advisory group has produced a report advocating some international control of the Internet.
From Childnet-int.org, Childnet takes part in the push to make children central to the World Summit on the Information Society 16 September 2005The World Summit on the Information Society is seeking to bridge the digital divide and build an inclusive information society in pursuit of the development goals of the Millenium Declaration.
From Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme, APDIP e-Note 1 - Voices from Asia-Pacific: Internet governance for sustainable human developmentAPDIP e-Notes are brief documents that present analyses of specific issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable human development in the Asia-Pacific region. This series introduces readers to the who, what, where, why and how of a wide range of current issues related to ICTs such as e-governance, free and open source software, ICTs and poverty alleviation, Internet governance and many others. In these pdf documents, the bullet points in the blue box are clickable and will take you to the related sections of the e-Notes. The URLs are also clickable.
16.09.2005
From The Christian Science Monitor, UN control of internet? Try again.As revolutionary as the Internet has been, its largest effects may be yet to come: as an inexhaustible library; as a superefficient vehicle of commerce; as a way for machines and electronic devices anywhere to talk with each other or people. A UN advisory group has produced a report advocating some international control of the Internet.
From ABC News, "Internet Oversight Board OKs New Domains"The Internet's key oversight agency approved a domain name for the Catalan language Thursday while deferring final action on creating a red-light district on the Internet through a ".xxx" suffix.
From theinquirer.net, "Time to Act on the xxx Porn Domain"INTERWEB overseers ICANN have delayed a plan to set up a .xxx domain for porn sites.
From ZDNet News, "Decision on .xxx domain delayed again"The fate of the highly controversial .xxx Internet domain will not be decided until "a future date," a representative of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names, which oversees domain names, said Friday. ICANN's board of directors considered an agreement for the proposed virtual red-light district at a Thursday meeting but decided against taking action, directing ICANN staff to negotiate "additional contractual provisions" with ICM Registry, the Florida company that plans to operate the domain.
From Internetnews.com, "ICANN Approves .cat, Delays .xxx"The board of directors for the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) departed from the norm with its approval of the .cat domain extension, officials announced Thursday evening.
From TodayOnline.com, "Catalonia a 'virtual' nation as web lets .cat out of bag" Web domain authorities in the United States have handed the eastern Spanish region of Catalonia 'virtual' national status by approving ".cat" for Internet sites in Catalan and pertaining to Catalan culture.
From PR Newswire, "FRC Urges U.S. Commerce Department to Kill .XXX Domain""The U.S. Commerce Department, which maintains oversight responsibilities for ICANN, must insist that the .XXX domain be killed. It is an idea that cannot be fixed," says FRC's Senior Legal Counsel, Patrick Trueman.
From USA Today, "Fence off Internet porn" The Internet has transformed the pornography business. In little more than a decade, online "adult entertainment" has become a booming multibillion dollar industry, enabled by the World Wide Web's easy, impersonal accessibility.
06.09.2005
From Choike - Internet Governance - A Review in the Context of the WSIS Process by Carlos A. Afonso This document provides information on the current Internet governance transition processes, discussing some of the approaches being submitted to public discussion, and reviews the final report of the WGIG. It also provides brief historical and reference information on the current global governance system, specifically created for the Internet. In addition, it presents a review of the perspectives on Internet governance from the point of view of the organized groups of civil society organizations who have been involved in the corresponding discussions both within and outside the WGIG. The paper is 50 pages long.
From Choike - Internet governance: Everybody's business in the Information Society One of the critical issues launched by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva in December 2003 is related to the Internet governance system, that is to say, to the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society of shared principles, norms, rules, decision making procedures and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. Within this framework, the UN - mandated by the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action - established in 2004 a Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG). The group was made up of 40 members from different countries and sectors (governments, private sector, academics and organized civil society) with the main purpose of investigating and making proposals for specific actions regarding Internet governance.
From Computer Professionals For Social Responsibility, Collective Learning in the World Summit on the Information Society by William J. Drake, President, Computer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityWilliam believes the WSIS process "does not look not look bad" as "It has provided the world community as a whole with a first opportunity to participate in an inclusive dialogue on a broad range of issues associated with the global information society". William focusses "on another foundation-laying byproduct of the WSIS process: collective learning." William concludes that the "WSIS process clearly has promoted collective learning on both procedural and substantive matters" and this "learning will inform and enhance the ways in which global information society issues are conceived and tackled going forward, whether in new WSIS-engendered mechanisms or simply in other, existing institutional environments. In this respect, the WSIS has already made an important contribution to the governance of the global information society."
From International Telecommunication Union, Compilation of comments received on the report of WGIG This document contains a compilation of comments on the report of the UN WGIG and proposals for Chapter three of the Operational Part of the Tunis Final Document(s).
from Worldsummit2005.de, After Tunis: A Summit Without Implementation and Civil Society? Civil society groups active in the WSIS have voiced their protest against a serious development related to the Tunis summit outcomes. The latest draft for the summit document on implementation and follow-up is lacking a meaningful commitment to implementation, and they also are a serious setback for the multi-stakeholder approach. The official WSIS website does not even list the Geneva civil society summit declaration anymore.
01.09.2005
From Internet Governance Project, Statement opposing political intervention in the internet core technical administrative functions - Internet Governance ProjectThe partners of the Internet Governance Project, plus a number of civil society groups and individuals, have written to express their concern over the August 11, 2005 request by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration to delay, and possibly deny, a gTLD delegation decision by ICANN's Board. The group writes the intervention by the NTIA raises important issues regarding the appropriate role of governments in the global administration of the Internet.
From Wired News, us: NSF Preps New, Improved InternetThe National Science Foundation is backing a major initiative that could lead to a completely new internet architecture, with built-in security measures and support for ubiquitous sensors and wireless communications devices, among other things.
From APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor,Africa Civil Society Prepcom BriefingThe WSIS PrepCom III of Phase II of the WSIS - will take place from September 19-30 and will be the last meeting for negotiation of the final Tunis documents. The following document outlines briefly the documents that will be negotiated, how they will be negotiated, and different opportunities for lobbying and the timetable for negotiations for PrepCom III.
From allAfrica.com, Africa Civil Society Prepcom Briefing The WSIS PrepCom III of Phase II of the WSIS - will take place from September 19-30 and will be the last meeting for negotiation of the final Tunis documents. The following document outlines briefly the documents that will be negotiated, how they will be negotiated, and different opportunities for lobbying and the timetable for negotiations for PrepCom III.
From allAfrica.com, WGIG Focus On Policy Issues Worries South African Internet SocietyInternet Society (ISOC) South African chapter is concerned that the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) report is too heavily focused on policy issues.
From allAfrica.com, South African Civil Society Learn About WSIS The biggest SANGONeT information communication technology (ICT) discussion forum with Civil Society Organisations of South Africa have started in Cape Town with an opportunity for the general public to learn about the WSIS.
From Center for Intrenational ICT Policies Central and West Africa, CIPACO project - Discussion on WSIS Prepcom 3 and the report of the WGIGOrganized by the African Civil Society for the Information Sociey (ACSIS) with the collaboration of PIWA (CIPACO project) and APC. From 24 August to 17 Septembre 2005.
From International Telecommunication Union, Input Document of Ambassador Janis Karklins, President of PrepCom of the Tunis Phase of the WSIS, for discussion at the 7th GFC Meeting on 5th September 2005. Revised Input to the 7th meeting of the WSIS Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC) (September 5-7 2005). Possible draft text for paras 10, 11 and 29 of the Operational Document and summary of new proposals from governments and other stakeholders.
From International Telecommunication Union, Compilation of comments on chapter one (implementation mechanism) and chapter four (the way ahead) of the operational partThe document is a compilation of textual changes proposed to the draft of chapters one and four of the operational part (WSIS-II/PC-2/DOC 3). These changes are based on new proposals received since the completion of PrepCom-2 (17-25 February 2005). As such, they complement the original compilations of proposals made during PrepCom-2, contained in documents DT/2 (rev.3) and DT/5. This document summarises only those contributions that suggested specific drafting changes.
From International Telecommunication Union, Paper "Food for thought" of Ambassador Janis Karklins, President of PrepCom of the Tunis Phase of the WSIS, for discussion at the Informal consultation meeting on 13 June 2005 The new proposals in this paper will be in addition to the written comments and proposals presented during the first reading of the operational part on 21 February, contained in the compilation documents on chapter one (DT-2 Rev. 2) and chapter four (DT-5) respectively. The compilation document of new proposals received by 31 May 2005 will be issued as a reference document prior to the PrepCom-3, and these proposals will be examined by the GFC. They will also be posted on the WSIS website.
note: for some of the links we have used David Goldstein's Internet News archives.