Casting too wide a net? Critics see Internet board overstepping its authority

Article Abstract:

The Commerce Department's Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or Icann is raising controversy in its approach to breaking up the monopoly in Internet name registration. The Clinton administration's plan to privatize the Net has started with a $1 year tax on more than 4 million domain names. But the feud could curb investments in electronic commerce industry and a possible splitting of the Internet network. The current interim group at Icann has become a policy-making body, critics say one unaccountable to no one and influenced by powerful international corporate and government interests. Icann board leader Esther Dyson responds vehemently that she represents the little guy. Meanwhile, Network Solutions enjoys the lucrative government-contract monopoly of assigning Internet addresses.

Telegraph & other communications, Management, Internet service providers, Telecommunications regulations, Contracts, Privatization, Privatization (Business), Industry regulations, Internet/Web overview, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, Government communications regulation, Government regulation of business, Trade regulation, Network Solutions Inc. (Herndon, Virginia), NSOL, United States. Department of Commerce, Dyson, Esther

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Internet makes an easy target for lobbyists and lawmakers

Article Abstract:

There are several pieces of Internet-regulation legislation pending before Congress. However, they are many people in the industry that believe the government's efforts to control the Internet are premature and could have disastrous effects in the future. They maintain that the Internet is just simply too new to have laws applied to it. However, many organizations concerned with consumer privacy are very anxious to have laws applied to keep consumers protected from Web sites that harvest information without telling visitors.

Telecommunications, Telephone Communication, Telecommunications industry, Government regulation, Political aspects, Science and technology policy, Electronic commerce, E-commerce, Republican Party (United States), Democratic Party (United States), Legislators, Government Internet/Web application, Government agency software

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