Brussels, 15/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 12 June, the Telecoms Council adopted conclusions on transferring the management of Internet Assigned Numbers Administration (IANA) functions to the stakeholder community.
The IANA coordinates certain essential elements that enable the Internet to function. It manages domain names and coordinates IP addresses and other protocol-related resources. It is headed by the US ICANN body. In March 2014, the US National Telecommunications and Information Authority decided to transfer IANA functions to the global stakeholder community. This move was welcomed by the European Union because Internet management has been deemed too dependent on the US.
In its conclusions, the Council welcomed the progress accomplished in the discussions held on this transfer. It is calling for new efforts to be made to ensure that the Internet remains a single, open, neutral, free and non-fragmented network. It also adds that any unjustified delay in this process could have a negative impact. (Isabelle Lamberty)