ICANN's Trusted Community Representative (TCR) program, which proposes to distribute signing authority for the DNS root zone among representatives of the Internet community, was launched by ICANN about two weeks ago.

DNSEXT Working Group participant Thierry Moreau observes that

basically, the concept (and details) of TCRs is the ICANN answer to the concern over a strengthening of DNS control, [and over allowing] international participation. The concept of TCR is also original - no other crypto deployment ever required, or seemed to require, a similar level of transparency.

But, despite the good intentions there are questions.   more »

I have been attending the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) meeting in Toronto. ARIN is one of the RIRs, i.e., the Internet address registry and policy making authority for North America. Although I have observed and participated on RIR lists for some time and interacted with RIR representatives at ICANN, WSIS and IGF, this is the first time I have been able to attend a meeting. I'm glad I did.   more »

As reported last week, the House Homeland Security Committee has passed a $2.7 billion appropriations bill, H.R. 4842 Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010. The bill allocates $150 million over two years to the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.

The bill continues the funding of Internet standards works dealing with securing critical Internet resources, as well as offers an opportunity for improving our understanding of how domestic efforts to improve cybersecurity impacts global Internet governance.    more »

The North American Network Operators Group (NANOG), which is little known outside of the technical community but serves a vitally important role in the successful functioning of the Internet, has decided to organize under 501(c)3 status. To date, NANOG had its meetings and activities organized under the auspices of Merit, a Michigan-based educational and networking research non-profit which managed NSFNet, the precursor to the modern Internet. Since 1994, the NANOG mailing list has served as a primary method of inter-carrier communication in the region, used to share information and resolve operational problems. How the change will impact NANOG's activities and the operators who participate is to be determined, but it represents another step in the continuing formalization of Internet governance institutions.   more »

It's not often you get to see the Internet Society butt heads directly with ICANN, which some consider its creature. In comments filed today with ICANN, the President and CEO of the Internet Society (ISOC), Lynn St. Amour, sent some sharply-worded criticism to ICANN President and CEO Rod Beckstrom. The comment, which was sent to the entire ICANN Board, criticized Beckstrom for his comments before the Governmental Advisory Committee at the Nairobi meeting last month, when he claimed that the domain name system is "under attack as never before" and implied that it is likely to collapse at any moment. Beckstrom made these comments by way of promoting his idea of a "DNS CERT".   more »

NPR concluded yesterday a series on "the newest arena of international conflict - cyberspace." To be honest, it was very gratifying to hear major media bringing the vitally important topic of global Internet governance to a wider audience. By and large it was good reporting, highlighting the increasing contention as national governments world-wide struggle with the ramifications of a global communications network. One point they missed though was that "global Internet governance stands...neutral, apolitical, and largely hands off [from government interference today]." This is simply incorrect.   more »