Govts. Urged to Limit Authority to Internet Security, Stability Threats
The U.S. govt. should “rededicate” itself to private control of the domain name system (DNS) by limiting its authority to guarding the authoritative root’s stability and security, the ICANN President’s Strategy Committee (PSC) was told Mon. The proposal by Wilmer Hale lawyer Becky Burr, a former NTIA official, and Internet consultant Marilyn Cade offers a “practical and constructive path” to healing the “festering sore” caused by govt. failure to privatize the DNS, Burr said. The PSC is examining ways to strengthen the ICANN model as the Internet evolves.
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Continued unilateral U.S. control over the root has dragged ICANN into “distracting debates” on sovereignty and Internet governance, Burr and Cade said in comments to ICANN and to the NTIA inquiry on DNS transition to ICANN. They urged a clear statement by the govt. on its residual control over the root by committing not to use that authority to meddle in changes to the root that don’t threaten DNS stability and security.
Burr and Cade endorsed creation of a “strawman” -- an intergovernmental working group acting as a collective multigovernmental “backstop” on security and stability. The govt. would direct ICANN and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority to send the group all reports and recommendations for changes to the root. The group could place a time- limited hold on any changes it decides could endanger the root’s safety. They urged the U.S. to lead other govts. by example as an adviser to the ICANN process, and to require the Internet body to do an independent assessment of its accountability and transparency mechanisms’ effectiveness.
Asked how a panel whose members would include govt. representatives could avoid politicization, Burr said the “critical piece” is the working group’s clear understanding that it only deals with threats to the Internet’s technical security and stability. Were the U.S. to try to use that authority in a political way, “the system will fall apart,” said Burr, whose NTIA duties required her to direct VeriSign to make changes to the authoritative root.
The DNS should be governed by a nonprofit designated as an “international organization,” like the International Fertilizer Development Center, Former U.N. Legal Counsel Hans Correl said. Burr called it an “interesting model,” but said it would take many years and a presidential order to create. Remmy Nweke, chair of the Nigeria Internet Group international relations committee, said in written comments that securing a stable DNS requires having ICANN absorbed into the U.N.
Most commenters agreed ICANN is the correct mechanism for managing the DNS, but said it needs tweaking. Among others, former Domain Name Supporting Organization General Assembly Chmn. Danny Younger called for creation of a civil society supporting organization. “While states have a vehicle within ICANN to articulate their views (the Governmental Advisory Committee), and while the private sector has the benefit of Supporting Organizations within which they may express their concerns, it can be argued that civil society does not enjoy an equal stature within ICANN relative to these two other parties and warrants an enhanced role,” he wrote.
ICANN should move to the private sector within 2 years, once done with its final duties under the memorandum of understanding, ICANN’s Internet Service & Connectivity Provider constituency said, reprising comments filed with NTIA. While ICANN has made progress toward transition, it’s not yet ready for full control of the DNS, Go Daddy Group registrars said. The PSC’s online consultation continues through Aug. 15 -- psc@icann.org. Its final report to the board is expected Sept. 1.