25yrs A quick look at 25 years of the administration of the Internet DNS system as told thorugh pictures and video. adsmatter Sometimes the ads are more interesting than the words. cira-itu "The ITU shouldn't be let anywhere near the Internet" ?!? Uh, you're kidding right? Do you have any idea how "too late" that particular sentiment is? eye-star-rock-star

internetnews Fear Commentary on Internetnews articles. ITU ITU 'failed,' says former policy chief The International Telecommunication Union is "the most failed body in the history of international telecommunications," a former policy chief has told CNET. Anthony Rutkowski held the position of the ITU's chief of telecommunication regulations and relations between members in the ITU's general secretariat from November 1987 to January 1992. In that capacity, he also served as counselor to the secretary-general, worked for two ITU secretaries-general -- and much more in various capacities for the telecommunications arm of the United Nations. Speaking to CNET exclusively from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Rutkowski criticized the ITU and warned of the backlash from the international community. Right now, the U.N.'s ITU continues to host its World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) in Dubai, where member states are arguing over proposed revisions to the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR) -- which would expand the ITU's jurisdiction over the Internet, such as creating pay-per-use tolls and heightening surveillance and monitoring regulations, and which would give nation states increased control over the Internet. "The reality is that other than ITU radio spectrum management work, the rest is a worthless institution that does nothing more than flush money into the Geneva economy."--Anthony Rutkowski The ITU reminds its critics at every public relations juncture that member states do not have to agree to the changes, and may not even implement them (a number of nations -- such as the United States -- have historically ignored the ITU's treaties). Rutkowski wryly remarked, "Most of the material being stuck into the current new draft is absolutely absurd. Even the 1988 ITRs are a joke. Everyone forgot about them because no one could possibly abide by them as they mandate conformance with ITU-T standards, which are the worst in the world. It has left a 40 year trail of 'road kill' on the information superhighway." RConversation In resonse to Rebecca MacKinnon's July 15, 2009 post: What needs to happen is a critical mass with an inclusive consensual workable plan needs to emerge. This whole plan was just to give IANA an an institutional framework but the "legal personality" it needed in 1996 for an archaic $15K/yr "part time task" at the time doesn't necessarily translate into a $100M/yr traveling trade show rife with influence peddling while maintaing a monopoly regulotory framework costing American jobs, freedoms and consumer choice. It's been ten years. No more excuses. rjs 14-jul-09