ISPs Call for Openness in New Internet Governance Organization.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1998--The Internet Service Providers' Consortium (ISP/C), the largest trade association of small- to mid-size ISPs in the world, today joined with numerous other members of the Internet community in urging the Department of Commerce not to transfer U.S. government control and assets related to the Domain Name System (DNS) to any organization until it meets the criteria outlined in the so-called "White Paper."

The White Paper, a U.S. Government document that outlines the creation of a new non-profit organization created by the private sector to take over the management functions of the DNS currently performed under U.S. Government contract by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

Kevin Crocker, MBA and CFO of The Internet Consortium Corp. offered:

"The proposed DNS organization appears to be a monopoly in both literal and financial senses. There are no checks and balances to ensure proper financial control, review and reporting. One decision by the new organization to raise the rates on a single service could easily send shockwaves through the entire internet industry, raising the cost of services for Internet users everywhere."

Roxanne Loveday, president of the ISP/C had this to say:

"The White Paper calls for private bottom-up coordination, openness, and transparency. These features are present in the documents produced by the Boston Working Group. Their work reflects the views and consensus reached by many of the countless participants in the International Forum on the White Paper."

The International Forum on the White Paper, a non-partisan, all volunteer effort, held a series of meetings worldwide to bring all interested parties together for the purpose of discussing the White Paper, and to attempt to arrive at consensus regarding the structure and function of the new organization.

"The Boston Working Group's documents correct many of the most serious deficiencies of the IANA Draft V proposal in the areas of openness, accountability, and fiscal responsibility," said Deb Howard, executive director of the ISP/C.

The Boston Working Group (BWG), a group comprised of several participants within the IFWP process, has outlined a set of proposed changes to the current draft documents for the creation of the new organization offered by IANA, and has submitted them to the Department of Commerce for review, and public comment.

The original documents and the proposed changes are available on the Department of Commerce's Internet Web site at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/domainhome.htm.

Charles Smith, Chair of the Board of the ISP/C, stated:

"IANA has repeatedly refused to participate in open negotiations with other interested and affected stakeholders to create the documents, and to select the Interim Board for the new organization. The documents, and the proposed board members are the product of IANA and those that have chosen to engage in private negotations for their own private advantage. Anyone that has chosen not to, or has not been asked to engage in such negotations has effectively been denied a voice in the creation of the new organization, which is contrary to the most fundamental principles outlined in the White Paper."

About the ISP/C

The Internet Service Providers' Consortium is a not-for-profit corporation with over 230 members in the ISP industry. With its business office located in Venice, Calif., USA, the ISP/C's international membership extends across North America, Europe, Central America, South America and Asia. As the largest trade association of small- and mid-size ISPs, the ISP/C welcomes inquiries and support from all interested parties. For further information, look up its web site located at http://www.ispc.org.