US gives up key role at Icann

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the organization that manages the top level domains on the Internet, will become more independent from the United States. Many countries have been pushing for this for some time.

Since its inception in 1998, the ICANN has operated under the auspices of the United States Department of Commerce. As the importance of the Internet grew, the rest of the world began to object to the great American influence over its management. After years of diplomatic wrangling, the US government has finally agreed to allow the Icann to become an independent organization.

In the new agreement It is still agreed between the Icann and the Ministry of Commerce that the Ministry will have a seat on the Governmental Advisory Committee, the committee that monitors the regulations by the Icann. The European Commission was satisfied with the new agreement. In a declaration European Commissioner Viviane Reding expressed her satisfaction.

“I welcome the decision of the US government to adapt Icann’s key role in managing the Internet to the realities of the 21st century and a globalized world,” said Reding. “Internet users around the world can now count on Icann’s decisions about domain names and addresses to be more independent, open, and in the best interests of everyone.”