The ICANNblog

ICANN Turns 10 Years Old.

September 30th, 2008

by Chuck Kisselburg
ICANNWiki.org

Today ICANN turns 10 years old!

While many may wish ICANN never existed to begin with I can’t help but reflect on the industry as a whole.  In the last couple of months, when talking with people, I would ask them to think back to what the Internet was like 10 years ago for them.  That usually follows with a “wow” like facial expression.  In other words, they are in agreement that the Internet has progressed greatly in the last 10 years.

When you look at this industry from ICANNWiki’s perspective, the entire ICANN community includes not only the ICANN “academics”, but the registries, registrars and Domainer communities as well.  I should also note that I also view ICANN “academics” apart from the global movement centered around Internet Governance.

Not only has ICANN built structure to support the survival of the Internet, but the other communities associated have created a whole new multi-billion dollar industry.  As with several of my previous posts one thing I find energizing about this community is the very fact that it is entrepreneurial.  Overall this community of ours is still in its infancy, working to move forward while at the same time helping to define its future.

And, from my perspective, the future looks even brighter with the work that is being done towards opening up the market for new gTLDs and, of course, the vast impact the Internet will have on those with the introduction of IDNs.

As we take this time to reflect over the previous 10 years, what about looking ahead?  What would you like to see?  Personally speaking I feel that the whole ICANN community is in a TREMENDOUS position to utilize its vast contacts to assist in more humanitarian efforts, whether that be in areas of charitable fund raising, such as what Sedo has done with its “SedoCares” initiative or in developing programs whose goal is to assist in disaster relief efforts, such as what DotAsia has done with “Relief.Asia” and their mindset in giving back to the .Asia community.

So as the day goes with the world’s financial markets reeling from recent events, wars in other countries and the world watching and waiting for a new US president to be elected, ICANN turns 10 years old today.  For some this is a celebration.  For others this may only fuel their dislike of the organization.  However, travel back to your experience with the Internet 10 years ago today.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but marvel over the organization and efforts that have brought the overall ICANN community, not to mention the Internet itself, to where it is today.

Happy birthday, ICANN!

Now, I’ve got to go.  A phone call is coming in on my PC…….

Entry Filed under: Site News, ICANN News, ICANN Info, Technology, People, TLDs, domaining, Business Strategy, Parking, Registrars, Community, ICANN Community, IDNs, Legislative, Registry, ICANN