[IP] ex-FCC Commissioner Harold Furchgott Roth on UN Governance of the Internet
From: Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth [mailto:harold.furchtgott-
roth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 6:52 AM
Subject: The United Nations Strive To Run the Internet
Suite 800
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Telephone: 202.776.2032
The United Nations Strive To Run the Internet
By Harold Furchtgott-Roth
The New York Sun
July 19, 2005
When it comes to the Internet, many American businesses lobby the
federal government intensively on issues ranging from taxes to
security to intellectual property. It turns out that some people
believe these and other issues should be resolved by the United Nations.
Decades ago, scientists and engineers working for the American
government developed the concept and physical reality of the
Internet. In the early 1990s, the Internet entered the public and
commercial realm not because the United Nations or any other entity
developed a parallel system, but because the U.S. government
permitted its commercial development.
A lesser government would have kept complete control of the Internet.
A less generous government would not have opened its network
architecture or naming conventions. A less trusting government would
have monitored all traffic. A less morally confident government would
have insisted on continuous recognition.
The technology of the Internet would have developed without our
government, but more slowly, less predictably, and with less
universal availability. Our government's opening of the Internet was
not merely magnanimous: It was taken without self-conscious
calculation of any national benefit or harm.
Today, the Internet links networks that span the globe in every
conceivable manner. It thrives because of - not despite - the fact
that no international body dictates its every feature. Our government
and others negotiate rules and enforcement for the Internet to
protect consumers and businesses from unlawful activities. These
negotiations have worked well without centralized U.N. regulation.
The United Nations, of course, did not invent the Internet, but it
has anointed itself as worthy of planning a new international
governance of the Internet. Last week, the secretary-general of the
United Nations, Kofi Annan, released the Report of the Working Group
on Internet Governance. The WGIG consists of 40 individuals from both
government and private institutions. The U.N. selected governmental
officials from China, Cuba, Iran, and other countries. Although a few
Americans are on the WGIG, our government, which developed the
Internet, did not rate a seat at the table.
The WGIG report was written in the plebian setting of the Chateau de
Bossey in Switzerland. The report lists a litany of problems with the
Internet, all of which can apparently be handled by a "global multi-
stakeholder forum to address Internet-related public policy issues."
Moreover, in a transparent reference to the American government,
which was not a participant in the group, it says, "No single
Government should have a pre-eminent role in relation to
international Internet governance." The U.N. report modestly
concludes, "The [Internet governance] forum should preferably be
linked to the United Nations."
The most disturbing aspect of the United Nations is not so much its
petty personal corruptions or even its bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Many if not most national governments around the world have differing
degrees of corruption and inefficiency. But the United Nations
uniquely seeks to displace national governmental authority with its
own brand of undisciplined authority.
The United Nations is nothing if not ambitious. It seeks a role in
the governance of issues ranging from telecommunications
infrastructure and interconnection to intellectual property
management (apparently, the United Nations is not persuaded that
intellectual property protection is a good idea), from consumer
protection to "the appropriate protection of privacy, personal data,
and other human rights." There is little related to the Internet that
the United Nations does not seek to regulate.
The United Nations cannot succeed on its own. But that it boldly
publishes the WGIG Report supporting a greater U.N. role in Internet
regulation is a step that it would not have taken even a few years ago.
The Internet has thrived without U.N. governance. Of course, the
Internet could be improved in many ways, particularly the enforcement
of legal rights. The United Nations in its report does not see a role
for itself merely in promoting enforcement; rather, it sees its role
as greater "governance" of the Internet.
Businesses and consumer groups lobby Congress and the administration
daily to adjust regulations affecting various issues related to the
Internet. Perhaps they should also lobby for a stronger American
voice at the United Nations. The administration's nominee for
ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, sits in limbo before
the Senate while Mr. Annan moves forward with his efforts to place
the Internet under U.N. governance.
If you prefer not to receive these emails, please send a message to
unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with “remove from list” in the
subject heading. If you would like to be added, please send a
request to updates@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\
-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To manage your subscription, go to
http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip
Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/