Management of the DNS root zone file is a uniquely global policy problem. For the Internet to connect everyone, the root of the internet’s identifier systems must be coordinated and compatible. But who will control that coordination process? Right now, the U.S. government assumes exclusive responsibility for it. The U.S. refuses to internationalize its oversight, or to delegate it fully to ICANN. Internet users and governments in other countries are uncomfortable with U.S. unilateral control, knowing that the U.S. could, if it wanted, exploit its power over the root for political, military or economic advantage. For that reason, DNS root zone file management has been one of the most controversial issues in Internet governance.   more »

Today, IGP launches a month-long series of blog entries on DNS security, focusing specifically on the problem of cryptographically signing the DNS root zone. We will explore some of the hidden and not-so-hidden political implications of this technical change. We will show how DNSSEC implementation, if handled properly, creates an opportunity to overcome some of the thorny global governance issues associated with the current root zone file management procedure. These postings -- hopefully with the aid of your comments -- will evolve into a new position paper on the politics and economics of DNSSEC to be released in May. The ideas will be discussed at the Symposium on "Internet Governance and Security: Exploring Global and National Solutions," in Washington, DC, May 17, 2007. One panel, focused on DNSSEC, will feature speakers from IGP, the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), VeriSign, ICANN/IANA, ISC, and IETF, with commentary by Becky Burr, a lawyer at Wilmer Hale and former Commerce Department official who specializes in DNS law.

Next up: Introduction