[arin-announce] How the Internet Works - Discussion at WSIS Conference

[Member Services]

The following event is being held in Geneva during the The World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) Conference next week. WSIS is being
organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), on behalf of
the UN. Participants will include representatives of ICANN, ISOC, other
Internet organizations, governmental representatives and the Regional
Internet Registries.

The intention is to provide an opportunity for conference delegates to
learn more about the current system of Internet administrative
coordination, sometimes known as "Internet governance", which is under
rather intense discussion within the WSIS process.

I would appreciate your help in publicizing this event to all interested
persons who may be attending WSIS. Additional information about WSIS can
be found at http://www.wsis.org.

Regards,

Raymond A. Plzak
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)


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EVENT:
The Internet - How it works, Why it works, Who makes it work

Date:
Tuesday, December 9th at 9:30 to 12:30

Place:
Saleve room, Geneva Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland

Description:

The Internet is now over 30 years old. The multiple facets of the Internet
have evolved through the participation of all stakeholders - the technical
community, business community, civil society, governments, academia, to
mention just a few. This workshop explains how the Internet functions, and
how it has evolved successfully with the participation of all
stakeholders. The Internet's success is due to the unique nature in which
it develops - through international, transparent, inclusive processes,
with no restriction on the ability to participate. With no barriers to
participation, there is also full accountability to the community.

It is important in discussing "Internet Governance" to have a full
understanding of how many things can fall under the term, such as fraud,
trademark and copyright violations, spam, digital signatures, content
control, and so on. No facet of the Internet can work in isolation,
technology impacts policy, and policy can impact technology. It is also
important to understand that there are many entities involved in any
aspect of the Internet, and the workshop will show the roles played by
such organizations as ICANN and the role of ccTLDs, gTLDs, RIRs in
relation to the do main name system, the work of the technical community
such as the IETF, and the important work of organizations such as ISOC.
The workshop will also explain how all interested parties, including
governments, can and do participate in some of these organizations, and
how decisions are reached.

All members of the Internet community with an interest in Internet
Governance issues are invited to attend this workshop.

Agenda

09:30 - 09:40 Introduction

09:40 - 10:10 Internet standards - IETF and ISOC
Speaker: Ms. Lynn St.Amour, President and CEO, Internet Society

10:10 - 10:40 ICANN current process and evolution
Speaker: Dr. Paul Twomey, President and CEO, ICANN

10:40 - 10:10 The Regional Internet Registry System
Speaker: Mr. Raul Echeberra, Executive Director and CEO, LACNIC

11:10 - 12:30 Panel Discussion