Showdown on the Information Highway

I've always been concerned that the US has virtual control over the internet right now, under the pseudo-independent ICANN. I find it particularly troubling under the current administration in power, with their proclivity for controlling the message in the traditional media. The shutting down of low watt community radio stations, (the so called pirate stations that really aren't hurting anyone and providing a community forum within a tiny geographic range) and the seizing of the Indymedia servers in London by US officials did nothing to assuage my concerns.

It appears I'm not the only one who is worried. Governments around the world are joining together to request the US cede control to an international body.

While the formal proposal from a U.N. working group will be released July 18, it's already clear what it will contain. A preliminary summary of governmental views claims there's a "convergence of views" supporting a new organization to oversee crucial Internet functions, most likely under the aegis of the United Nations or the International Telecommunications Union.

The US (read that as the Bush White House) adamantly refuses to even consider the prospect, which could ultimately lead to disgruntled nations such as China and Brazil creating a new top level domain outside of US control, effectively bifurcating the world wide web. This could result the same internet addresses returning different results on the two systems.

As Declan McCullaugh says, "Such an outcome remains remote, but it could happen. That possibility means an obscure debate about Internet governance has suddenly become surprisingly important."