Domain name overseer ICANN is likely to go through a radical reorganization if it wants to be given more control of critical internet functions, currently run under contract from the US government.
Two recent papers - one from independent legal experts hired by a group looking into the contract's transitioning, and a second from an internet governance think-tank - have both highlighted the benefit to making ICANN a true member-led organization, with the internet community given real powers to effect change.
Despite numerous efforts to increase the influence of the internet community over the organization's Board and staff, including no less than seven reviews in the past 10 years, the central paradox that only the Board can reduce its own power has meant that only superficial changes have been achieved.
In addition, despite ICANN's own lawyers arguing strongly that many of the proposed changes would in fact be impossible or illegal, an independent legal team hired by the review team has produced an initial report that paints a very different picture.
The legal memo argues that if this board expansion was combined with the creation of actual members and a sub-group of the Board that does much of the day-to-day work (an executive committee), many of the issues could be resolved without requiring huge structural change.
As expected, ICANN is fiercely resisting any and all efforts that would cause its staff of Board to lose or even disperse its current overweening power over the internet's domain name system.
Full Article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/04/03/big_changes_proposed_to_dns_overseer_icann/While the corporation has focused most of its efforts in ensuring its gets control of the IANA contract (rather than be awarded the contract through a third-party), it is having a hard time trying to similarly control the process that would introduce fundamental changes to the way the organization is run and how it is held accountable.
