|
"The root domain service is provided by 13 servers, which exist in multiple physical locations around the world. They're managed by such authorities as Verisign, NASA, the US Military, and RIPE. In theory, if one managed to disable all the root name servers long enough, the entire DNS system would fail, and we'd likely be unable to continue using the internet in any useful manner. That's a highly unlikely scenario, though. Each root name server likely exists as multiple computers in multiple locations, all running different operating systems, different name sever software on different hardware. Nonetheless, the continued operation of the DNS service is essential to our practical day to day usage of the internet. It's security is vital to our infrastructure and economy."
"So, who controls the root-level domain?"
"Surprise, surprise, it's the U.S. government. More specifically, it's the United States Department of Commerce. This makes sense, since the internet was originally a project of the United States Army, the DNS system has always been under the control of the U.S. government. Now, here's where things get interesting: Back in 1998, the United States government said that by 2006, they would turn over control of the root domain to ICANN: an international authority charged with control of the DNS system. Well, the deadline is nearing, and in a recent statement released by the U.S. Department of Commerce guess what they announced?"
"Surprise again: the United States government will not be turning over control of the root domain to an international authority. Once more, the Bush administration has hocked a big loogie in the face of multilateralism, because they CAN. The motivations of the United States government should be obvious to anyone: the economies and infrastructure of the west are dependent upon the continued functioning of the internet. In American hands, the root domain service is safe behind iron bars, and the Americans aim to keep it that way."
"And you know, that's fine. IF they continue to operate the root domain in neutral and purely technical manner, keeping politics out of global network administration."
"However, looking at the presentation given by the Dept. of Commerce, the motivations are pretty far from apolitical. The U.S. believes that it controls the internet because it created the net originally. It will, "maintain its historic role in authorizing changes or modifications to the authoritative root zone file." Did they say "authorizing"? I can't help wondering if it will ever come to the U.S. deleting the top-level domain for a country it doesn't particularly like, such as Iran or North Korea. The declaration also states that, "Given the breadth of topics potentially encompassed under the rubric of Internet governance there is no one venue to appropriately address the subject in its entirety." Translation being, "United Nations: keep your nose out of our damn business." "
__________________
Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice. . . Restraint in the pursuit of Justice is no virtue.
Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964
|