U.S. Rejects UN Internet Takeover Scheme

[emcguffie]

From the Heritage Foundation.

http://www.heritage.org/press/dailybriefing/policyweblog.cfm?blogid=C9D012B1-D031-03D2-34E3B7CA78450160

US comments can be found at link: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/2005/51063.htm

UN report: http://www.wgig.org

U.S. Rejects UN Internet Takeover Scheme
08/18/05 09:39 AM

On Monday, the United States submitted comments (PDF link) on the Report of the Working Group on Internet Governance (PDF link), released by the United Nations in June of this year. Good news: the U.S. is holding firm resisting pressure from the UN to opt for more international bureaucracy and regulation in the name of ending the so-called global “digital divide” and promoting international “Internet governance.”

....

The Working Group also came up with a definition of “Internet governance” to define the forum’s mandate: Internet governance is the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.

This stands in stark contrast to the current working definition, which is more or less something like ‘Ensure that the different networks that make up the Internet share a common addressing scheme and are able to exchange traffic among themselves.’ All other matters relating to ‘use’ and ‘norms’ are decided by national or local governments—and the means of addressing them are thus not embedded in the Internet's technical fabric.

...snip...

[babylonsister]

1. Why would the UN think they had the authority to do this? nt

[SouthernDem2004]

2. Aside from UNICEF what has the UN run correctly?

[wuushew]

3. No anti-U.N. talking points here please

if you not familiar with their numerous successful programs please do not berate them.

[SouthernDem2004]

4. Maybe but in general they have serious issues. Not to point these out

would be ridiculous. To think the UN could do a better job with the internet is absurd. The internet is fine the way it is.

Odd, did not know you were the OP or a Mod.

[babylonsister]

5. FWIW, I wasn't disparaging the UN, I was asking a question.

If you are familiar with the UN, perhaps you have an answer.