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World unable to agree on internet governance

A United Nations group charged with deciding how the net should be run has failed to reach a decision. The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was set up after delegates to the U.N.`s World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) failed to agree on how the net should be run. A number of those attending the 2003 WSIS meeting in Geneva were happy with the current system in which the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) oversees the running of the net`s addressing system.

The group`s report suggests four possible futures for net governance that range from no change to complete overhaul. The four proposals will be sent forward to the second World Summit on the Information Society which is due to take place in Tunisia in November 2005 where delegates will pick their favourite option.

The report comes as the U.S. says it plans to keep its role as overseer of the net`s core administrative body. Delegates from developing nations resent Icann`s role and the fact that the United States has kept control of it.