Just saw this online, and it seem apropos to recent traffic:
A controversial plan to grant governments broad controls over the Internet
has stolen the spotlight of a United Nations conference on IT next week,
where China and Cuba will be among its strongest supporters.
Leaders from nearly 200 countries will convene in Geneva for the World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Dec. 10-12, an inaugural
conference with lofty goals to discuss bridging the digital divide and
fostering press freedoms.
But a contentious political move to grant an international governing body
such as the U.N.'s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) control over
Internet governance issues -- from distributing Web site domains to the
public to fighting spam -- has all but obscured the more virtuous aspects
of the event.
...
.. many in the developing world believe a new approach is needed as the
[Internet] enters its teen years, one that will see poorer countries
harness new technologies to improve their competitive stance.
...
[ICANN] has been criticized roundly for adopting a pro-business approach
that neglects the developing world.
The ITU .. has been put forth by the developing world as the governing body
that will best address its needs.
"What we are looking at is the future management of the Internet. It's not
about who owns it or who will be regulating the laws, but what is best way
to manage what has become a natural resource for all of humanity,'' a
summit official said.
http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/08/technology/internet.reut/index.htm
Anyone know more about this?
Noel