Icann and US Government agree new MoU

Internet oversight body gains more autonomy from Bush administration

Internet oversight body the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has signed a new agreement with the US government that maps out the next three years of net governance and could provide Icann with greater autonomy.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties has been the subject of much criticism in the past, with industry experts arguing that the Bush administration has too much control over Icann and is undermining the neutrality of the internet. Some also blamed US government influence for the last-minute veto of the .xxx top level domain for pornographic sites that had all but been given the green light.

But since signalling its intent to give Icann more autonomy, at a public meeting held by presidential advisory body the National Telecommunications and Information Adminstration (NTIA) back in July, the government seems to have made several concessions that put Icann in a stronger position.

According to the new agreement, now known as the "joint project agreement", Icann no longer has to report every six months as it did under the MOU, it will instead produce a yearly report to be aimed at the wider internet community. Icann also said in a statement that it "will no longer have its work prescribed for it. How it works and what it works on is up to Icann and its community to devise".

Emily Taylor, director of legal and policy at .uk registry Nominet, welcomed the agreement as a "significant shift" in the relationship between the two parties.

"This new agreement will please many commentators who were calling for greater transparency and accountability from Icann. It also responds to those, including Nominet, who were pressing for a lighter weight agreement to replace the MOU; one which looks like the Department of Commerce is serious about making a transition," she explained.