Click here to view the IANA Stewardship Transition Fact Sheet & Statements of Support |
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Overview
The current IANA Stewardship Transition proposal development process represents the final phase of a plan to privatize the coordination and management of the DNS, initially outlined in a 1998 Department of Commerce White Paper. The U.S. Government recognized that, as the commercial use of the Internet expanded globally, governance of the Internet would also need to expand, evolve and adapt. The U.S. Government also believed that a private sector led organization would be better suited to lead and adapt to the rapid pace of innovation on the Internet.
Quick Links
Statements in Support of the IANA Stewardship Transition
Letter to the Editor Submission on ICANN Antitrust Exemption
NTIA intends to allow the IANA functions Contract to Expire
ICANN Submits Implementation Planning Status Report
NTIA Issues Report on Transition Proposals
ICANN Board Submits Proposals to NTIA
Relevant Links
Transition Participation and Engagement
Working Group Spaces
NTIA’s Announcement
On 14 March 2014, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its intent to transition its stewardship of the IANA functions to the global multistakeholder community.
In its announcement, NTIA asked ICANN to convene an inclusive, global discussion to determine a process for transitioning the stewardship of these functions to the multistakeholder community. It specifically stated that the transition proposal must have broad community support and address the following four principles:
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Support and enhance the multistakeholder model;
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Maintain the security, stability, and resiliency of the Internet DNS;
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Meet the needs and expectations of the global customers and partners of the IANA services; and,
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Maintain the openness of the Internet.
NTIA also specified that it would not accept a proposal that replaces NTIA’s role with a government-led or intergovernmental organization solution.
Why now?
The U.S. Government always envisioned its role as temporary. Transitioning stewardship of the IANA functions to the multistakeholder community marks the final phase of the privatization of the DNS as outlined by the 1998 White Paper.
In making its announcement, NTIA recognized ICANN’s organizational maturation, including steps taken to improve its accountability, transparency and technical competence, and the continued growth of international support for the multistakeholder model of Internet governance.
IANA STEWARDSHIP TRANSITION
Process Overview
At the ICANN 49 Meeting in Singapore two weeks after NTIA’s announcement, ICANN launched the multistakeholder process to develop the IANA Stewardship Transition final proposal. Based on discussions at ICANN 49, feedback from a Public Comment period and subsequent dialogues, ICANN drafted the Process to Develop a Proposal and Next Steps to guide the development of the IANA Stewardship Transition final proposal.
Structure and Key Groups
Reflecting the open and global nature of the Internet, the IANA Stewardship Transition process represents all Internet stakeholders. The organizational structure of the process calls for direct input from those communities that have working relationships with the IANA functions – Domain Names, Numbering Resources and Protocol Parameters.
- The IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG): The ICG has 30 members representing 13 Internet communities, including those direct stakeholders (e.g., operational communities with direct operation or service relationships with the IANA functions) and indirect stakeholders, such as civil society, governments and Internet users.
- Domain Names: Cross Community Working Group (CWG-Stewardship): A Cross Community Working Group was formed to develop an IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal on Naming Related Functions. The group was chartered by, and represents five communities.
- Numbering Resources: Consolidated RIR IANA Stewardship Proposal Team (CRISP TEAM): The CRISP Team was formed by the Number Resource Organization (NRO) – a coordinating body for the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) that manage the distribution of Internet number resources, including IP addresses.
- Protocol Parameters: IANAPLAN Working Group (IANAPLAN WG): The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) formed the IANAPLAN Working Group, which used their routine process of developing an “Internet Draft” for their response.
Inclusive, Open Participation
As mandated by the original RFP from the ICG, all community proposals are to be “developed through a transparent process that is open to and inclusive of all stakeholders interested in participating in the development of the proposal.”
The groups tasked with drafting IANA Stewardship Transition proposals are diverse, both geographically and in terms of the interests and needs represented within each working group and team. The CWG-Stewardship, CRISP Team and IANAPLAN WG have posted their proposals for public comment or feedback.
ENHANCING ICANN ACCOUNTABILITY
Process Overview
In response to a public session at ICANN 49 in Singapore and the community’s call for broader accountability mechanisms, including external and independent processes. After significant collaborative work and community input, ICANN published an Enhancing ICANN Accountability process.
Structure and Key Groups
- Cross Community Working Group On Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability): A Cross Community Working Group (CCWG-Accountability) was formed to facilitate the process of developing enhancements to ICANN Accountability. This CCWG-Accountability, chartered by and comprised of both Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees also provides meaningful opportunities for participation and comment from outside voices that may not participate in the daily workings of the group.
The community also strongly felt the CCWG-Accountability should have two Work Streams:
- Work Stream 1: focused on mechanisms enhancing ICANN accountability that must be in place or committed to within the time frame of the IANA Stewardship Transition;
- Work Stream 2: focused on addressing accountability topics for which a timeline for developing solutions and full implementation may extend beyond the IANA Stewardship Transition.
- Public Experts Group (PEG) and External Advisors: To advise and contribute to the dialogue of the CCWG-Accountability, a Public Experts Group selected seven Advisors to work with the CCWG-Accountability. The Advisors roles are to contribute research and advice to the CCWG-Accountability, and to bring perspectives on global best practices to enrich the discussion, all while engaging with a broader network of accountability experts from around the world.
- ICANN Board: The ICANN Board is involved in the accountability process, most prominently by way of a Board liaison that brings the Board’s voice and expertise to all discussions around the final recommendations. Secondly, the Board will consider the recommendations from the CCWG-Accountability. The Board can then accept the recommendations or, if members believe a recommendation is not in the global public interest, it will refer the recommendation back to the CCWG-Accountability to work on any issues identified.
Inclusive, Open Participation
Volunteers from the community are encouraged to participate in the Enhancing ICANN Accountability effort. Any interested party can join as a participant by completing a statement of interest and actively contributing to conversations and meetings or, alternatively, as a mailing list observer interested in simply monitoring CCWG-Accountability conversations. There are now 154 individual participants, along with 26 appointed members.
Similar to the groups tasked with drafting IANA Stewardship Transition proposals, the CCWG-Accountability represents broad diversity, both geographically and in terms of the interests and needs represented.
Participation is also encouraged through the opportunities for public comment or feedback on any Work Stream 1 and Work Stream 2 proposals.
Get Involved
1. Join a working group:
CCWG-Accountability, contact acct-staff[at]icann.org
2. Participate in a public comment period:
Participating in public comment periods is an integral part of ICANN’s inclusive and bottom-up model of proposal development
Open Public Comments can be found here
3. Stay up to date on recent developments:
Follow @ICANN on Twitter or like ICANN on Facebook
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