Title: US Keeps Control of Internet's Root
Servers


I'm curious to see what responses this article brings from this
list:


<a
href="
"http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/hoxR0GMAHn0G4n0DVjl0EK""
>U.S. Won't Cede Control Of
Internet's Root Servers
By ignoring calls by some
countries to turn oversight over to an international body, this
amounts to a change of course.


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NEW YORK (AP)--The U.S. government will indefinitely retain oversight
of the main computers that control traffic on the Internet, ignoring
calls by some countries to turn the function over to an international
body, a senior official said Thursday.



The announcement marked a departure from previously stated U.S.
policy.


Specifically, this virtually guts ICANN, since the heart or
kernel of its influence is removed. I look at the recent flop of the
EU Constitution, which was poorly drawn and overwritten, or perhaps
for those of us who subscribe to this list, overspecified is probably
the better term, and I see a trend. Add to that the likelihood of more
speechifying at best following the Big 8 Con this week, despite or
perhaps in spite of Live 8, and you get an interesting situation,
which is a bit like saying with water at room temperature you get wet,
but I don't want to set a position against which to rail, just an
observation.


Of the many ramifications of the current quagmire
internationally, I suspect that we can expect about two and half more
years of steady worsening, and hardening of attitudes as America rolls
up its sleeves to play more "hardball."
 
Anyone for UN Reform? Looks like Demolition Derby to me. Question
is: What will this do to the uptake of open standards for some form of
interoperability, or has XML already passed the point of no return
into the realm of fait accompli?


Ciao,
Rex
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Rex Brooks

President, CEO

Starbourne Communications Design

GeoAddress: 1361-A Addison

Berkeley, CA 94702

Tel: 510-849-2309