America and the Internet: A Look At Basic Principles
The internet has grown from a specialized communications tool used primarily by scientists to a ubiquitous component of the global economic infrastructure. As the internet has evolved, so has the need for appropriate management of this sprawling yet vital resource. With regard to the future of internet management, this column recently quoted George Tenet as sating "the Wild West must give way to governance and control." Although some may take exception to Mr. Tenet's views, there is no question that cybersecurity is among the America's most important and difficult challenges.

The largest global effort at governing and controlling the internet is being undertaken the United Nations through the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a project which has caused substantial concern among stakeholders committed to the principles of free and open communications and commerce that have been essential to the internet's development.

Before considering new principles for managing the internet, it is important to review the federal internet management policies that have allowed the internet to flourish for the benefit of diverse stakeholders around the globe. The following are a few of the basic principles for managing the internet that have been established by the Federal government.

• "governments must adopt a market-oriented approach to electronic commerce, one that facilitates the emergence of a global, transparent, and predictable environment to support business and commerce."¹



• "For electronic commerce to flourish, the private sector must lead.²



• "The Internet succeeds in great measure because it is a decentralized system that encourages innovation and maximizes individual freedom. Where possible, market mechanisms that support competition and consumer choice should drive the management of the Internet because they will lower costs, promote innovation, encourage diversity, and enhance user choice and satisfaction."³



• "coordinated maintenance and dissemination of the protocol parameters for Internet addressing will best preserve the stability and interconnectivity of the Internet. We are not, however, proposing to expand the functional responsibilities of the new corporation beyond those exercised by IANA currently."⁴



• "at the time the U.S. Government might seek to enter into agreements as described in this policy statement, a determination will be made as to whether any reporting or record keeping requirements subject to the PRA [Paperwork Reduction Act] are being implemented. If so, the NTIA will, at that time, seek approval under the PRA for such requirement(s) from the Office of Management and Budget."⁵