KEMBAR78
ICANN Overview | PDF | Computer Network | Application Layer Protocols
Scribd
Upload
9 views2 pages

ICANN Overview

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to manage the Internet's unique identifiers, including the Domain Name System and IP addresses. It transitioned IANA stewardship from the U.S. government to a global community in 2016 and has a governance structure that includes a Board of Directors and various advisory committees. Recent initiatives include aligning organizational objectives with strategic direction and addressing challenges related to domain name expansion and governance efficiency.

Uploaded by

zatatechnologies27
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views2 pages

ICANN Overview

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to manage the Internet's unique identifiers, including the Domain Name System and IP addresses. It transitioned IANA stewardship from the U.S. government to a global community in 2016 and has a governance structure that includes a Board of Directors and various advisory committees. Recent initiatives include aligning organizational objectives with strategic direction and addressing challenges related to domain name expansion and governance efficiency.

Uploaded by

zatatechnologies27
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

Overview
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a global
multistakeholder, nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, U.S.,
established on September 30, 1998. Its mission is to ensure the stable, secure, and unified
operation of the Internet’s systems of unique identifiers—primarily the Domain Name
System (DNS) and IP address allocations.

History
 Green Paper & Formation (1998): In January 1998, the U.S. Department of
Commerce’s NTIA published the “Green Paper,” proposing a private-sector nonprofit to
manage Internet names and addresses, leading to ICANN’s creation.
 Incorporation & IANA Contract: ICANN was formally incorporated on September 30,
1998, to perform the IANA functions under contract with the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
 IANA Transition (2016): On October 1, 2016, control over the IANA stewardship
functions transitioned from the U.S. government to the global multistakeholder
community, fully vesting these responsibilities in ICANN.

Core Functions
 DNS Management: Policy development and implementation for gTLDs and ccTLDs.
 IP Address Allocation: Manages global IPv4 and IPv6 address pools and delegates blocks
to Regional Internet Registries.
 Protocol Parameter Registries: Maintains assignments of protocol numbers used by
Internet standards bodies.

Governance Structure
ICANN’s governance is structured to ensure balanced representation and accountability
across the Internet community.

1. Board of Directors (16 members): Includes independent directors, Supporting


Organization representatives, an at-large registry seat, and the President/CEO.

 GNSO – gTLD policy


 ccNSO – ccTLD policy
 ASO – IP address policy

2. Advisory Committees:

 GAC – national government input


 ALAC – individual user perspectives
 SSAC – technical security guidance
 RSSAC – DNS root server operations
 TLG – liaison with technical bodies

Recent Developments (2025)


 FY26 Organizational Objectives: Effective July 1, 2025, aligning executive performance
with ICANN’s strategic direction.
 Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) Framework: Published by the Community
Coordination Group to institutionalize community-led evaluation and process
enhancements.
 Strategic Plan for FY 2026–30: Launched July 1, 2025, defining ICANN’s long-term
priorities around Internet stability, security, and global collaboration.

Impact and Criticism


 TLD Expansion: The 2012 introduction of new gTLDs broadened naming options but
raised trademark protection and DNS-security debates.
 Governance Model: ICANN’s bottom-up, consensus-driven approach is lauded for
inclusivity but criticized for slow decision cycles.

You might also like