ICANN Explained

In overly simplistic terms, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees the Internet - not all of the Internet, but parts of it.

Until the late 90s, the United States Federal Government managed the Internet. This meant that when someone wanted to start a new website, IP addresses had to be allocated, or other Internet-related tasks came up, the government had to handle it. At the beginning of 1998, the U.S. Department of Commerce suggested outsourcing all that work.

By the end of 1998, ICANN had been established as a non-profit organization and began its still-standing contract with the Department of Commerce to manage various Internet tasks. It is headquartered in Marina del Rey, California and is managed by a board of directors.

ICANN handles a wide variety of tasks to coordinate the complicated network of computers and devices that is the Internet. They oversee the registration of domain names and have contracts with any domain registrar (GoDaddy, Moniker, etc.), accrediting each registrar as able to sell domains. ICANN also manages several top-level domains -.com,.org,.net, etc.

Additionally, ICANN manages IP addresses, which are numbers assigned to devices which use the Internet. They help coordinate distribution of IP addresses so no two are alike; otherwise, your computer wouldn't know which website you were looking for. ICANN also helps manage root servers, which are giant address books that connect domain names with IP addresses.

Overall, ICANN oversees the complicated interconnections of the Internet, allowing computers to find each other.

ICANN is supported by and coordinates with various organizations that also deal with IP addresses, domain names, governments, root server operators, and other Internet-related issues. They are governed by a 21-person board, members of which are chosen or nominated, depending on the position. As a business, ICANN is accountable to California law, and as a contractor is ultimately accountable to the Federal Government. ICANN also seeks input from the general public in regards in Internet policies.

When it comes to managing the Internet, ICANN is charge and it looks like it will continue to do so for years to come.

Scott Spjut is a writer and editor who has been featured in various magazines, newspapers and websites, including Newsweek, the Washington Post, CBS News and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. With a B.A. in Communications, he continues to write on a wealth of topics - politics, health and fitness, business, marketing and more. Scott is currently working with My eBiz helping people change their lives.