1. Governing the Commons: The Future of Global Internet Administration An Overview of the Issues Hans Klein Chairman of the Board, CPSR School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

2. The basic issue: Shared resources Highly centralized system Shared set of unique names and addresses Shared root server

3. Shared resources require Shared administration (governance) Institutional design Effective: to insure system stability Legitimate: prevent abuse of power Representation Transparency and Accountability

4. History 1970s-1980s -- Jon Postel (IANA) 1992 -- Internet Society (ISOC) 1992 -- Network Solutions Inc. (NSI) 1996-97 -- IAHC-MoU 1997-98 -- Green & White Papers Nov. 1998 - ICANN

5. Recurring Problems Lack of consensus Lack of due process Meteoric growth exacerbates problems

6. ICANN Administration of shared resources Representation Board of 19 Root server Shared registry Accredidation of registrars

7. Controversies: Legitimacy No elected board Closed meetings Dismissive of critics

8. Controversies: Substantive Decisions Fast action on policies Conditions for accredidation Fees Country code top level domains Dispute resolution policy

9. Current Issues Finances Sustainability of privatization Lawsuit? Stability of technology

10. At-Large Elections Individual users 9 board seats Democracy in cyberspace Legitimate? Role of CPSR