Evidently, It's Not *Your* Internet, World

The Times goes a bit into the current situation with ICANN. For those who don't follow this sort of thing:

Icann [sic] was created at the Clinton administration's behest as a private-public alliance to oversee Internet addresses. Although Icann says it is advised by more than 80 nations and has had citizens of many countries on its board, it operates under a memorandum of understanding with the Commerce Department.

Icann was founded with the intent of becoming an independent or "denationalized" group. But in June, the Bush administration backed away from that plan, saying in a "statement of principles" issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that the United States had the right to maintain oversight of Icann indefinitely.

And folks wonder why non-English-speakers, particularly from outside of North America or Europe, are having a tough time getting with this Internet thing. Let's not be responsible for ruining another great, global initiative.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/14/business/14register.html