What Would An Independent ICANN Mean for National Security?
Internet governance is a national security issue. The federal government's interest in whether or not ICANN becomes independent was recently discussed by former ICANN Board member, Karl Auerbach. Mr. Auerbach published his comments on ICANNWatch.org in response to an article discussing media reports that ICANN President Twomey had stated that corporation would cut its ties with the Department of Commerce and operate as a private organization in 2006.

Mr. Auerbach explained that "Without DoC backing ICANN becomes merely a private California corporation with contracts that control access to an entire industrial segment that, in turn, controls an increasingly critical infrastructure."

After discussing some of the economic implications of an independent ICANN, Mr. Auerbach stated, "I just spent some time inside some of the thicker-walled three-letter agencies in and near Washington DC. I got the very distinct impression that with the current ‘security first' mentality that ICANN, and the Dept of Commerce, will be in for a big surprise if they try to cut ICANN's ties to the US government."

Clearly, there are government stakeholders with an interest in ensuring appropriate long term federal supervision of ICANN. As Mr. Auerbach concludes, "In the 1950's one the damning question [sic] asked of agencies and bureaucrats was ‘Who lost China?' I doubt that many of today's bureaucrats want to risk ending their careers by being at the wrong end of the question ‘Who lost the Internet?'"