IAB Technical Comment on the Unique DNS Root. Request for Comments: 2826. INFORMATIONAL. May 2000
ICP-3: A Unique, Authoritative Root for the DNS
ICANN explains how their alternate root is different than ours. Know the difference between, say, the ORSC alternative root and the ICANN alternative roots? ICANN board members actually use the ORSC alternative root. That's the only difference.
Internic FAQ on the Authoritative root.