[DMCA-Activists] Concise Guide to Major Internet Bodies

[Seth Johnson]

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A Concise Guide to the Major Internet Bodies


Who steers the Internet? "The Internet, a loosely-organized
international collaboration of autonomous, interconnected
networks, supports host-to-host communication through voluntary
adherence to open protocols and procedures defined by Internet
Standards." . While this definition is essentially correct, its
emphasis might give the reader the impression that no one is at
the helm of the Internet.

That conclusion would be wrong. Certain protocols, and the
parameters required for their usage, are essential in order to
operate on the Internet. A number of bodies have become
responsible for those protocol standards and parameters. It can
be fairly said that those bodies steer the Internet in a
significant sense.

This document is a summary of those bodies and their most
important characteristics.

The bodies belong to three major nexuses. Links, both formal and
informal, exist between the nexuses.

Almost all Internet technological standards are developed and set
by the group consisting of the Internet Society (ISOC) and the
units operating under the auspices of ISOC: the Internet
Architecture Board (IAB), the Internet Engineering Steering Group
(IESG), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet
Research Steering Group (IRSG), the Internet Research Task Force
(IRTF), and the RFC Editor. It is important to note that, while
these units are responsible to ISOC, ISOC allows them a large
degree of independence in their technical work.

Internet domain names and IP addresses are the province of the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and
its Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

World Wide Web standards are developed by the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C).

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> http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/views/v6i5_simoneli.html


A Concise Guide to the Major Internet Bodies


The bodies responsible for the Internet's protocols and
parameters can be said to steer the Internet in a significant
sense. This document, by Alex Simonelis of Dawson College in
Montreal, is a summary of those bodies and their most important
characteristics.

1. Introduction

Who steers the Internet? "The Internet, a loosely-organized
international collaboration of autonomous, interconnected
networks, supports host-to-host communication through voluntary
adherence to open protocols and procedures defined by Internet
Standards." [1]. While this definition is essentially correct,
its emphasis might give the reader the impression that no one is
at the helm of the Internet. That conclusion would be wrong.
Certain protocols, and the parameters required for their usage,
are essential in order to operate on the Internet. A number of
bodies have become responsible for those protocol standards and
parameters. It can be fairly said that those bodies steer the
Internet in a significant sense. This document is a summary of
those bodies and their most important characteristics.

The bodies belong to three major nexuses. Links, both formal and
informal, exist between the nexuses.

Almost all Internet technological standards are developed and set
by the group consisting of the Internet Society (ISOC) and the
units operating under the auspices of ISOC: the Internet
Architecture Board (IAB), the Internet Engineering Steering Group
(IESG), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet
Research Steering Group (IRSG), the Internet Research Task Force
(IRTF), and the RFC Editor. It is important to note that, while
these units are responsible to ISOC, ISOC allows them a large
degree of independence in their technical work.

Internet domain names and IP addresses are the province of the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and
its Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

World Wide Web standards are developed by the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C).

It should be noted that the direction of the Internet's physical
network structure is not addressed in this document. That
structure is essentially determined by a large number of mainly
commercial network operators, ranging from small to
intercontinental, that build and join their infrastructures in
response to market forces, in order to provide them to
subscribers on a paid basis. These networks that form the
Internet are linked in a topology similar to that of a large,
well-developed highway system.

2. ISOC

ORGANIZATION: In 1991, the large growth of the Internet,
including its commercial sector, and the Internet community's
need for a formal organization to provide a legal home for the
standards bodies of that time (IETF, etc.) led to the formation,
under the auspices of the Corporation for National Research
Initiatives (CNRI), of the Internet Society. In January 1992, the
Internet Society was chartered as a U.S. District of Columbia
non-profit corporation.

GOVERNANCE: ISOC is governed by its Board of Trustees.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: ISOC welcomes individuals and
organizations as members. Individuals in the Internet community
have ample opportunity to participate in ISOC and its component
bodies.

MISSION/GOALS: ISOC's mission is "To assure the open development,
evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people
throughout the world." [2]. As one of its most important tasks,
it "facilitates open development of standards, protocols,
administration and the technical infrastructure of the Internet"
[2], and so it is the organizational and legal home for most of
the groups that are responsible for developing Internet technical
standards.

FUNDING: ISOC is funded mainly from organization member fees.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: IAB, IESG, IETF, IRSG, IRTF, RFC Editor.

3. IETF

ORGANIZATION: The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) held its
first meeting in 1986. It is a loosely self-organized, large,
grass roots technical group consisting of network administrators,
designers, researchers, vendors, users, etc. In its broader
sense, IETF is used to refer to IETF, IAB, IESG, IRSG, IRTF and
RFC Editor as a collective.

GOVERNANCE: The IETF is not a formal body, and has no board of
directors. It operates as an activity of ISOC and is responsible
to it. For its technical work, it is divided into broad units
called areas, each led by the Area Director(s) (ADs). ADs are
proposed by the nominating committee (the Nomcom) of the IETF,
and appointed by the IAB. The areas are divided into more
specialized working groups (WGs), each with chair(s). WG chairs
serve at the pleasure of the appropriate AD. IETF has a chair who
is proposed by the nominating committee of the IETF, and then
appointed by the voting members of the IAB, not including the
incumbent IETF chair. The IETF chair is also the chair of IESG.
WG and AD decisions are subject to appeal to the IESG.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: There is no formal membership. Generally,
attendance at IETF meetings and subscription to IETF mailing
lists is open to all volunteers. Participants are expected to
contribute as individuals, rather than as representatives of
companies or organizations.

MISSION/GOALS: The IETF concerns itself with the engineering and
architecture of the Internet. It is the principal body that
develops, tests and implements new Internet technological
standards, including protocols. The IETF proposes standards to
the IESG.

FUNDING: The IETF, including its small Secretariat, is largely
self-funded via IETF meeting attendance fees. A relatively small
percentage of IETF's budget is contributed by ISOC.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IAB, IESG, RFC Editor, ICANN, IANA, W3C.

4. IESG

ORGANIZATION: Formed in 1989, the Internet Engineering Steering
Group (IESG) is the management group of the IETF.

GOVERNANCE: The IESG operates as an activity of ISOC and is
responsible to it. The IESG is led by the IETF/IESG chair. IESG
decisions are subject to appeal to the IAB.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: The members are the Area Directors of
IETF, the chair of IETF/IESG and a small number of ex-officio and
liaison members.

MISSION/GOALS: The IESG vets and approves IETF standards, and
generally manages the standards process according to the policies
and procedures ratified by the ISOC Trustees. The IESG creates
IETF working groups, etc.
FUNDING: The IESG is largely self-funded. ISOC contributes.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IAB, IETF, RFC Editor, IANA.

5. IRTF

ORGANIZATION: Formed in 1989, the Internet Research Task Force
(IRTF) is a self-organized research group.

GOVERNANCE: The IRTF is divided into research groups (RGs), each
with chair(s). RG chairs may be removed by the IRTF chair,
subject to appeal to the IAB. The IAB appoints the chair of the
IRTF. The IRTF chair reports to the IAB.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: Since RGs are expected to be long-term
groups, and to encourage the kind of working relationships such
groups may need, membership in RGs may be open or closed, in
contrast with IETF WGs, which are always open. Participants are
expected to contribute as individuals, rather than as
representatives of companies or organizations.

MISSION/GOALS: While the IETF focuses on engineering and
standards, the IRTF focuses on research. The IRTF investigates
Internet topics that are too uncertain or too advanced to be
standardized at the moment. When IRTF produces a specification
that is suitable for standardization, it is processed via IETF.

FUNDING: The IRTF is largely self-funded. ISOC contributes.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IAB, IRSG.

6. IRSG

ORGANIZATION: Formed in 1989, the Internet Research Steering
Group (IRSG) is the management group of the IRTF.

GOVERNANCE: The IRTF chair leads the IRSG. The IRTF chair reports
to the IAB.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: The IRSG consists of the chairs of the
IRTF research groups, the chair of IRTF, and possibly at-large
members from the research community.

MISSION/GOALS: The IRTF chair manages the IRTF in consultation
with the IRSG.

FUNDING: The IRSG is largely self-funded. ISOC contributes.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IAB, IRTF.

7. IAB

ORGANIZATION: In June of 1992, the Internet Society chartered the
Internet Architecture Board (IAB) as one of its components. The
ancestor of the IAB was the Internet Configuration Control Board
(ICCB), a technical advisory group formed by Vint Cerf of DARPA
in 1979. The ICCB was replaced by the Internet Advisory Board
(IAB) in 1984, which became the Internet Activities Board in
1986, which was chartered as the Internet Architecture Board in
June, 1992.

GOVERNANCE: ISOC has jurisdiction over the IAB but allows it a
large degree of independence in its operations. With respect to
technology, the IAB is considered to be a committee of the IETF.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: IAB voting members are proposed by the
nominating committee of the IETF, and are then appointed by the
ISOC Board of Trustees. The IETF chair, who is chair of IESG as
well, is also a voting member. The voting members select one of
themselves to serve as chair of IAB. Non-voting members, mainly
from associated bodies, also exist. Members serve as individuals,
and not as representatives of companies or organizations.

MISSION/GOALS: ISOC mandates the IAB to oversee the architecture
of the Internet, including its protocols and other standards.
IESG decisions may be appealed to the IAB. IAB rulings are final,
with the exception that claims that the IAB proceeded
unreasonably may be appealed to the ISOC Board of Trustees. The
appointment of an organization as RFC Editor is subject to IAB
approval. The IAB claims, on behalf of the IETF, to appoint the
organization which is to act as IANA (see sections 9 and 10
below). The IAB appoints the IETF Area Directors and the IETF
chair on recommendation of the IETF, as well as the IRTF chair.
The IAB advises ISOC's Board, and carries out technical external
liaison on behalf of ISOC.

FUNDING: The IAB is largely self-funded. ISOC contributes.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IESG, IETF, IRSG, IRTF, RFC Editor,
ICANN, IANA.

8. RFC Editor

ORGANIZATION: The RFC document series was initiated by UCLA's
Steve Crocker in 1969, and maintained originally at the SRI
Network Information Center, then at USC ISI. Jon Postel of USC
ISI headed the RFC Editor for decades until his passing in 1998.
The RFC Editor is currently a small department operated by USC
ISI for ISOC.

GOVERNANCE: ISOC appoints an organization as RFC Editor on the
recommendation of IAB. The IAB vets the general policy followed
by the RFC Editor.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: ISOC appointees.

MISSION/GOALS: The RFC Editor is the organization that edits,
manages, publishes and maintains the authoritative archive of the
Request For Comments (RFC) documents, which are the Internet's
documents of record.

FUNDING: ISOC funds the RFC Editor.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ISOC, IAB, IESG, IETF, IANA.

9. ICANN

ORGANIZATION: In the late '90s, the U.S. government was
completing implementation of its decision to privatize the
Internet. The implementation called for the continued operational
stability of the Internet, including its Domain Name System. In
1998, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) was chartered as a California non-profit corporation for
this purpose. It can be regarded as a technical coordinating and
regulatory body.

GOVERNANCE: ICANN is governed by its Board of Directors. The
majority of Directors are selected by ICANN's nominating
committee. A number of others are appointed by ICANN's supporting
organizations. Directors are expected to serve as individuals,
not as representatives. The U.S. Department of Commerce gives
ICANN authorization to perform the IANA function via a renewable
contract which contains a number of reporting requirements. For
the more technical aspects of its operations, ICANN and its Board
rely on the IETF and the IAB for information and guidance.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: ICANN has neither individual nor
organizational members in the ordinary sense. Its supporting
organizations and advisory committees generally provide a great
deal of feedback to the Board on the issues of the day, and ICANN
regards them as its constituents. They span the globe and cover a
broad range of interests: technical, commercial, governmental,
academic and user-oriented. Individuals in the Internet community
have some opportunity for participation in ICANN, mainly through
its advisory committee structure.

MISSION/GOALS: ICANN's revised articles of incorporation state
that "... the Corporation shall, except as limited by Article 5
hereof, pursue the charitable and public purposes of lessening
the burdens of government and promoting the global public
interest in the operational stability of the Internet by (i)
coordinating the assignment of Internet technical parameters as
needed to maintain universal connectivity on the Internet; (ii)
performing and overseeing functions related to the coordination
of the Internet Protocol ("IP") address space; (iii) performing
and overseeing functions related to the coordination of the
Internet domain name system ("DNS"), including the development of
policies for determining the circumstances under which new
top-level domains are added to the DNS root system; (iv)
overseeing operation of the authoritative Internet DNS root
server system; and (v) engaging in any other related lawful
activity in furtherance of items (i) through (iv)." [3]. The
articles further state that ICANN "shall operate for the benefit
of the Internet community as a whole, carrying out its activities
in conformity with relevant principles of international law and
applicable international conventions and local law and, to the
extent appropriate and consistent with these Articles and its
Bylaws, through open and transparent processes that enable
competition and open entry in Internet-related markets. To this
effect, the Corporation shall cooperate as appropriate with
relevant international organizations." Among ICANN's most
demanding responsibilities are the creation of top-level domains
and the (re-)delegation of domain registries.

FUNDING: ICANN is funded mainly from domain name and IP address
registries and registrars. Its budget includes funds for a number
of staff, headed by a President/CEO and including an Ombudsman.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: IANA, U.S. Department of Commerce, IAB, IETF,
W3C.

10. IANA

ORGANIZATION: The tasks that the Internet Assigned Numbers
Authority (IANA) performs began in the early '70s. Those and
ensuing tasks were performed, and the organization was led, by
Jon Postel for decades. Formally, IANA is said to be a service or
set of functions. In practical terms, it is a subsidiary
organization of ICANN.

GOVERNANCE: In March, 2003, the U.S. Department of Commerce
awarded its most recent contract to ICANN to perform the IANA
functions. ICANN operates IANA under the authority of the U.S.
government. IANA works collegially with the IAB, IESG and IETF in
carrying out its mission.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: ICANN appointees.

MISSION/GOALS: IANA oversees IP address allocation, manages the
DNS (this includes root server system oversight and top-level
domain delegation), and coordinates protocol parameter
assignment. All Internet domain names and IP addresses are
allocated from IANA, either directly or, much more likely,
indirectly through IANA's delegation of authority via a worldwide
system of Internet registries and registrars.

FUNDING: ICANN funds IANA.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: ICANN, IAB, IESG, IETF, RFC Editor.

11. W3C

ORGANIZATION: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was founded by
Tim Berners-Lee in October, 1994 at MIT in collaboration with the
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

GOVERNANCE: The W3C is a group hosted by MIT in the U.S., the
European Research Consortium in Informatics and Mathematics
(ERCIM) in Europe, and Keio University in Japan (the Hosts). The
W3C is responsible to the Hosts, who maintain a Steering
Committee that sets general policy and strategy for W3C from time
to time; the majority of the Steering Committee are either from,
or appointed by, MIT. W3C calls its technical tasks "Activities",
and groups them into broad units called domains. Activities are
carried out by Working Group(s) (for technical work), Interest
Group(s) (for general work) and Coordination Group(s) (for group
coordination). Groups have a chair and consist of member
representatives, Team representatives and invited experts. The
Team is the Hosts' technical and staff corps that leads
Activities and manages the W3C. The Team includes the Director,
the Chief Operating Officer, the W3C Chair, W3C Fellows, and
others. The Director: has responsibility and authority for
overall direction of W3C, is the chief technical architect,
chairs the Technical Architecture Group (TAG), appoints group
chairs, hears appeals of working group decisions, is appointed by
MIT and reports to the Director of MIT's Lab for Computer
Sciences. The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for
worldwide operations and general management of W3C. The W3C
Chair, appointed by MIT, is responsible for member relations and
external liaison. The Advisory Committee (AC) is the general
assembly of the membership, with one representative from each
member; it reviews proposed Activities and recommendations, and
suggests future directions for the W3C. The Advisory Board,
elected by the Advisory Committee, is the representative council
of the membership; its chair is appointed by the Team; it is not
a board of directors; it gives guidance to the Team on legal
issues, strategy, administration, structures, process, etc., and
can do so in between Advisory Committee meetings, which are
infrequent.

MEMBERSHIP/COMPOSITION: The W3C is structured, and membership is
priced, to have organizations as members. Individuals in the
Internet community have limited opportunity for participation in
W3C, mainly via those W3C mailing lists that are public.

MISSION/GOALS: "The mission of the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) is to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by
developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure
its interoperability." [4]. The W3C develops, tests and
implements new Web technological standards ("recommendations" in
W3C parlance). The W3C is similar to the IETF in that it develops
technological standards, but its focus is more tightly directed,
at the Web and associated technologies.

FUNDING: W3C is funded mainly from organization member fees, and
some grants. Its budget includes funds for a number of staff and
collaborative resources.

ASSOCIATED BODIES: IETF, ICANN.

12. Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dawson College. Thanks to Tim Berners-Lee, Bob Braden,
Vint Cerf and Ian B. Jacobs for their constructive reviews of
major portions of this document.

13. References

[1] Internet Activities Board, "The Internet Standards Process" -
RFC1310, RFC Editor, March 1992.

[2] ISOC, URL http://www.isoc.org/isoc/mission/, February 2005.

[3] ICANN, URL http://www.icann.org/general/articles.htm,
February 2005.

[4] W3C, URL http://www.w3c.org/Consortium/Process, February
2005.

14. Author Information
Alex Simonelis is a faculty member in the Computer Science
Department of Dawson College in Montreal, Canada, and is
interested in the Internet, operating systems, programming
languages and data structures. Email:
address@hidden

Author's Note

The reader should be aware that this document was submitted to
the RFC Editor as a proposed RFC, and rejected, essentially
because it contains some points that were judged to be too
controversial. For example, this paper describes ICANN as a
technical coordinating and regulatory body; the senior leadership
of ICANN, however, maintains that ICANN is definitely not a
regulatory body, which is clearly contrary to reality. On another
point, some groups described herein have contradictory views on
which body has jurisdiction over IANA. Furthermore, there are
differences of opinion regarding the degree of independence of
the IETF from ISOC, and therefore any statement that takes a
position will be considered controversial by some. And so it
would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a document
to treat this subject matter in a concise and accurate way, and
at the same time avoid controversy. In any case, it is the
author's conviction that this document does achieve objectivity
by using historical and legal facts as its basis.

Source: Ubiquity, Volume 6, Issue 5, (February 15 - February 22,
2005) http://www.acm.org/ubiquity