"Currently it's not an issue of who is in control, but rather that we control the Internet." said AJ Gentry, lightOS founder and CEO. "Although I happen to agree with Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, sponsor of a Senate resolution that calls for the Internet's core addressing system to remain under U.S. control, the appeal of that resolution is not biased by a desire for U.S. position. The major issue we need to address at this time is who will police the Internet infrastructure and how. Opponents of this control resolution cite U.S. demand for total authority over the Internet at the expense of other nations. On the other hand there is fear that relinquishing U.S. control will open the way for global taxation of domain names or suppression of content.''

"So far the U.S. Commerce Department and ICANN ( Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ) have demonstrated reasonable judgement and management of the domain-name registration system and Internet protocol number logistics. Certainly there needs to be one governing body to insure uniform Internet management and operation, but it can be designed to be a neutral cooperative effort between many nations. The responsibility does not have to rest with one nation, but should be garnered by one specific transparent group with well defined guidelines and regulations and no undue goverment influence. I don't believe that Internet control should be a primary concern of U.S. negotiators as they prepare for a United Nations summit in Tunisia next month. If Internet control is turned over to a bureaucratic body like the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union growth and stability could be sacrificed. The Internet infrastructure control group should consist of raw Internet design and operation understanding. The responsibility requires more than just bureaucracy. It requires a working knowledge of all aspects of the Internet including how decisions made influence every domain down to the single individual. This is something that has been considered since day one with the original designers of web content. The more pressing issue at this time is how to police the existing Internet infrastructure."

"Even before the 1998 INET Summit Conference I was an advocate for better methods to police the Internet as it exists. Not just in registration and domain properties, but in support services to help resolve issues like SPAM including new Phishing SPAM's, content abuse, and online privacy. The European Union should understand that without an effective and efficient manner of addressing these issues it simply dosen't matter who is actually in control of the Internet infrastructure. Ultimately the individuals who initiate email and content abuses influence the overall shape and direction of the Internet."

"The Internet control group would at best be a multi-part interest. Domain-name registration and management is a fairly rational and stable procedure. However, the policing efforts will always be in a state of flux. Ever evolving to meet the design needs and direction of those desiring to circumvent the regulations. We must also look at the costs involved. Domain-name issues have very limited costs compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars lost to issues like Phishing SPAM emails. This process of policing Internet activities is the foundation toward better Internet control and a more effective and useful Internet for everyone on this planet."

"I propose a neutral Internet governing body which is a unified effort of many nations with specific divisions for the management, regulation, and policing of Internet domain, design, content, privacy, and communications. A governing control group that "reports" to the United Nations, but is free of specific government influence. Chartered solely for the unbiased effective design, regulation, and operation of the global Internet with all interests equally considered."

About lightOS

lightOS (www.lightos.com), Your Window To The Web(TM), continues to pioneer innovative web resource delivery systems and digital technologies.

Founded in 1996 from original 1994 Internet construct design, lightOS developed into the choice of many as an efficient resource portal on the web. The lightOS Internet Guide and lightOS World Internet Community now support hundreds of thousands of web sites with members in more than 100 countries. Currently, there are 15 active user posts, an innovative award winning free URL submission service that serves thousands each week, job/resume search services to almost 2 million jobs, and over 21,000 media sources. Truly a global network that includes online radio, television, live web cams, and news, weather, and sports agencies.

lightOS also supports web based technologies and issues such as privacy and security certification programs and new music & video developments including MP3 and streaming video. The founder of lightOS continues to support discussion and development in the areas of ecommerce, regulation, and resource delivery through seminars and industry summit efforts.

SOURCE: A.N.G. Bond, Ltd.