ICANN has outgrown JPA - Thrush

In November 2007, a joint agreement between the US Department of Commerce and ICANN was reached, allowing ICANN to take full control of Internet governance and usage worldwide. The agreement followed fears that the United States government was using the Internet to monitor the activities of the world.

Thrush noted in his preparation for the midterm review of the JPA that although the agreement was a helpful Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), it however seems to have overstayed its usefulness because ICANN has gone beyond the requirements of the JPA. Just like other MoUs, the JPA has assisted ICANN to arrive at where it is today but changes are needed to make it respond to the needs of today.

He pointed out that ICANN has executed JPA terms, which commenced in September 2006, adding that it has met its responsibilities under the JPA agreement.

Thrush also noted that the concluding part is the next line of action, which is in transition of the coordination of the Domain Name System (DNS) to the private sector, adding that this step would provide continued confidence that the original vision as contained in the White Paper is delivered.

He said, "Concluding the JPA will not affect existing accountabilities expressed in the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority contract and United State government's participation through the Governmental Advisory Committee."

Furthermore, Thrush said, the 13 status reports have been provided to the DoC, each including a list that outlines performance based on agreed tasks set out in the seven MoUs that were signed in 1998 as part of the JPA.

He reeled out some ICANN achievement in recent past to include the introduction of competition in domain name registration services for the Generic Top Level Domains System (GTLDS), implementing the uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy for Resolving cyber-squatting and other intellectual property disputes as well as establishment of formal legal arrangements with the regional Internet Registries including the setting up of the Address Supporting Organisation (ASO).

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