U.S. to Relinquish Control of ICANN Next Year

WASHINGTON — The temporary role of the U.S. Department of Commerce managing ICANN is coming to a close.

ICANN, the czar of Internet names and addresses, will launch a drive to collect input throughout the year on how the Internet should be run. It will begin later this month at its Singapore conference.  

The deadline, at least a soft one, is September 2015 to have a new governance structure in place.

Any stakeholder of the Internet can weigh in on who should take on the role of ICANN, formally known as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Alan Marcus, senior director of the World Economic Forum, told the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. needs to relinquish control over its duties before new leadership can emerge.

"There are real issues that get clouded" by U.S. leadership of ICANN, Marcus told the paper.

The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration stated in a release that the the new governance model must ensure that ICANN is free from government influence, while preserving the security of the Internet and keeping it free from censorship.

Jon Postel, a computer scientist at USC, ran the functions of the web up until his death in 1998. But when he died, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a contract to ICANN to take over management of Internet names and addresses.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominees for Online Industry Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the nominees for the online industry edition of the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards, set to be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in conjunction with the XBIZ 2026 digital media conference.

AEBN Publishes Report on POV Trends

AEBN has published a report on POV and gonzo categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Joybear Pictures to Launch 'I Really Love' Studio Imprint

Joybear Pictures has announced that its new studio imprint, I Really Love, will launch in January.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Life Transitions' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group on navigating transitional and liminal spaces.

CamSoda Launches 'Trick or Tease' AI Companions

CamSoda has launched its Halloween-themed Trick or Tease AI companions.

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Penthouse Announces Digital Archive Launch

Penthouse Magazine has announced that it will launch a comprehensive digital archive in 2026.

Dreamcam Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Dreamcam has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Show More