Internet Governance

Stephen M. Ryan, Esq.MCDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY(202) 756-8333sryan@mwe.com

The Current Successful Internet Governance Model

• Current model primarily relies on non-governmental organizations, e.g.– NANOG/NOGs for operational standards– IETF for protocol standards– ICANN for DNS– ARIN/other RIRs for IP resource policy– ISOC and others for outreach• Some countries prefer a model that is

based on government to government negotiation and control, and firm government control of internal Internet access.

• U.S. Government opposes these efforts, but with a weakened voice

North American Interests In Global Policy and Governance Debate

• Most North Americans are very comfortable with NGO governance model and skeptical of control of Internet by any international government agency

• Profound civil liberties issues of Internet controlled by authoritarian governments, e.g.:– Attack on Estonia– Burma crackdown– Internal control of Internet by many

countries

• We cannot tell China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, etc. that they must permit Internet access to their citizens; but we also cannot permit them to tell us how to ration our citizen’s access

North American Interests In Global Policy And Governance Debate,

Continued

• Upcoming Events Will Impact The Law Enforcement Community: Law Enforcement has a continued need for

an informative, accurate Whois it can access on a bulk or individual basis, “24x7,” may conflict with other public policies

Continued policy debate in each sovereign government regarding the proper balance between business needs of an ISP, individuals need for privacy, versus law enforcement and civil law need for disclosed addressing data

Upcoming Events and Policies Require Law Enforcement Attention

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• Radiocommunication (ITU-R) Coordinates radiocommunication services,

radio-frequency spectrum, and satellite orbits

• Telecommunication Standardization (ITU-T) Produces standards for operation of ICT networks

• Telecommunication Development (ITU-D) Focuses on capacity building to increase access

to infrastructure and ICT services worldwide

ITU Sectors

Current Environment

• Busan, Korea, 20 Oct. – 7 Nov. 2014

• To set ITU's general policies Four-year strategic and financial plans

Elect officials

Set principles for provision & operation of international telecommunications

• Participation limited

ITU Plenipotentiary Conference

WTDC 2014