ICANN selects its wardens

December 2004

The Internet Coporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has selected the two independent wardens of its activites after a two-year delay.

The role of Ombudsman has been filled by Canadian Frank Fowlie, and the Independent Review Panel will be run by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), a division of the American Arbitration Association.

The two roles are vital to ICANN's future as it seeks to become an autonomous body in charge of the Internet. In 2006, its remit to act as the Net's overseer will end, and others will seek to take over the worldwide medium.

Independent review is the biggest stumbling block facing ICANN in its quest to be accepted as the world authority over the Internet. Since its inception in 1999, the organisation has been dogged by accusations of closed-doors decision-making and self-seeking behaviour. ICANN was eventually pressed into including an Ombudsman and Independent Review Panel into its bylaws in December 2002.

Since then, critics have been infuriated to see ICANN failing to fill the posts, claiming whenever challenged that it was still seeking the appropriate candidate. Two years later, we finally have them.