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| Abbreviation | ICANN |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 30, 1998 |
| Type | 501(c)3 organization |
| 95-4712218 | |
| Focus | Manage Internet Protocol numbers and Domain Name System root |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Key people |
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Employees | 428 |
| Website | icann |
| [1] | |
| Internet |
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 Internet portal |
| Internet history timeline |
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Early research and development:
Merging the networks and creating the Internet:
Commercialization, privatization, broader access leads to the modern Internet:
Examples of Internet services:
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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN /ˈaɪkæn/ EYE-kan) is a global multistakeholder group and nonprofit organization headquartered in the United States responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the Internet's stable and secure operation.[2] ICANN performs the actual technical maintenance work of the Central Internet Address pools and DNS root zone registries pursuant to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) function contract. The contract regarding the IANA stewardship functions between ICANN and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States Department of Commerce ended on October 1, 2016, formally transitioning the functions to the global multistakeholder community.[3][4][5][6]
Much of its work has concerned the Internet's global Domain Name System (DNS),[7] including policy development for internationalization of the DNS, introduction of new generic top-level domains (TLDs), and the operation of root name servers. The numbering facilities ICANN manages include the Internet Protocol address spaces for IPv4 and IPv6, and the assignment of address blocks to regional Internet registries. ICANN also maintains registries of Internet Protocol identifiers.
ICANN's primary principles of operation have been described as helping preserve the operational stability of the Internet; promoting competition; achieving broad representation of the global Internet community; and developing policies appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes.[8] The organization has often included a motto of "One World. One Internet." on annual reports beginning in 2010, on less formal publications, as well as their official website.[9]
ICANN was officially incorporated in the state of California on September 30, 1998.[10] Originally headquartered in Marina del Rey in the same building as the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI), its offices are now in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles.
- ^ "2024 Complete Report" (PDF). ICANN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ICANN Bylawswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Cheers to the Multistakeholder Community". ICANN.
- ^ "Final Implementation Update". ICANN.
- ^ "Stewardship of IANA Functions Transitions to Global Internet Community as Contract with U.S. Government Ends". ICANN.
- ^ "Statement of Assistant Secretary Strickling on IANA Functions Contract". National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
- ^ Koppell, Jonathan GS (January 17, 2005). "Pathologies of Accountability: ICANN and the Challenge of "Multiple Accountabilities Disorder"". Public Administration Review. 65 (1): 94–108. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2005.00434.x.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Internet Corporation for assigned names and numberswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ICANN Annual Report 2010" (PDF). ICANN. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Duran, Clint. "ICANN - Articles of Incorporation" (PDF). ICANN. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2020.