Observations on the US 'White Paper'–'Management of Internet Names and Addresses'

ICC has welcomed the publication of the White Paper and now offers the following Supplementary Commentary from the business perspective in the specific context of the US Government’s Revised Policy Statement in the White Paper.

For convenience, this Supplementary Commentary follows the format of the Revised Policy Statement in the White Paper. A brief summary of each statement in the White Paper is followed by specific commentary including references, where appropriate, to the relevant principles already outlined in the ICC Policy Statement.

ICC strongly supports the proposed transfer of administration of the Internet name and address system to a not-for-profit corporation to be formed and run by private sector Internet stakeholders. This approach is consistent with the promotion of private-sector, self-regulatory initiatives for dealing with such issues of governance which has been widely endorsed in various governmental statements on the creation of an appropriate regulatory framework for international e-commerce. The European Union, the US and Japan, for example, have all issued statements 2 supporting such an approach.

The US Government’s assurance that access will be provided to existing databases and software developed under relevant agreements with the US. Government is fundamental to ensuring continuity and a smooth transfer of operations. Insofar as such access will be essential to open the existing system to effective competition, it is important that every effort should be made to achieve this access by 30 September 1998 when the existing contracts expire.