International Journal of Communications Law & Policy

INTERNET GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE OF THE BERTELSMANN FOUNDATION
Guetersloh, Germany, June 15th, 2000
By Anika Hanssman

Download the Paper in PDF Format: IJCLP Web-Doc 9-5-2000

Abstract

A possible model for Internet regulation is the "Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers", abbr. ICANN. This non-profit-organization, located in California, is not only responsible for assigning Internet domain names, but also for IP address space allocation, without which no PC could be identified on the Internet. Moreover, ICANN will manage the "A-Root-Server", the so-called technical and administrative "heart" of the whole Internet, to which all Internet Providers will be linked worldwide. Until October 2000, all Internet users have an opportunity to determine 5 of 19 ICANN directors through worldwide elections. However, this fundamental decision, which is part of the founding process of the organization, has not been getting much attention in Europe. It is the goal of the project "Democratic Internet" of the Bertelsmann Foundation to bring attention to this important process. As part of its activities in this context, the Bertelsmann Foundation hosted the conference "Internet Govern-ance" in cooperation with the German Ministry of Education and Research in Guetersloh/Germany on June 15th, 2000.