ICANN drops its US Government affiliation
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (otherwise known as ICANN) has, since its inception in 1998, enjoyed been strongly ties with the US Government's Department of Commerce - something that's irritated international governments who've wanted the body responsible for domain names and the entire Doman Name System to be more internationally-balanced. In particular, ICANN has been criticised for long-delaying the arrival of international domain names.Today ICANN has signed a new 'Affirmation of Commitments' that allows it to break free from the US Government and be that long-sought-after international body. Whilst some US senators were concerned about the move to internationalise ICANN - and that ICANN will be overseen by more than just the US Government - the organisation has confirmed it will at least stay based in the United States.
There's been plenty of positive quotes about this change of status from the US Government, big Internet businesses such as Google as well as the likes of Vint Cerf - one of the co-inventors of the Internet - and ICANN is responding to its complaints about lacking internationalisation by supporting Chinese and Russian characters in Top Level Domain names next year.
[via Ars Technica]
