Marina del Rey, CA: ICANN and Internet Systems Consortium
(ISC) are today announcing the signing of a Mutual Responsibilities Agreement
for the operation of the F-root nameserver.
Effective root server operations
are an essential component in providing a stable and secure, globally interoperable
Internet. ISC is one of twelve global root server operators that provide
a key element of the underlying domain name system infrastructure of the Internet.
Essentially, root servers provide an authoritative directory ensuring Internet
services that are accessed with names, for example the URL www.icann.org or
email to info@isc.org, are translated from human readable names into network
addresses that a computer can find. The root server system overall answers
well over 100,000 queries per second, providing the first step in determining
the requested network address.
Root server operators have participated in
the ICANN community since its inception in 1998, but to date, there has
not been a formal written recognition of the mutual roles ICANN and the root
operators perform with respect to each other. The agreement between ICANN
and ISC is the first formalization of mutual responsibilities between a
root server operator and ICANN. The agreement outlines a structure and description
of duties and expectations, dispute resolution, and interchange of technical
information.
Paul Vixie, ISC's President said "I'm pleased that ISC could take a first
step with ICANN in completing this agreement. Since the creation of F Root
in 1994, ISC has always felt honored to provide this service and is responsible
to the entire Internet community to ensure that the F-root nameserver is reachable
24x7. Formalized expectations between ICANN and root operators will result
in a wider understanding of the key operational and stability issues of most
concern to the root operator community and the Internet community as a whole."
Paul
Twomey, ICANN's CEO and President said "Congratulations to ISC for being
the first root operator to formalize the mutual relationship with ICANN. ICANN's
core mission is overall security and stability of the domain name system,
and this agreement is another important step in coordinating the key players,
and ensuring that mutual accountabilities are documented and transparent."
Both
ICANN and ISC expect that this agreement may serve as a model for similar
agreements with the other eleven root server operators in the coming months.
Final adoption of this agreement will come with ratification by both organizations'
Boards, and is expected in January.
About ISC:
Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), public benefit
corporation with a long history of developing and maintaining the production
quality BIND and DHCP Open Source software. ISC has increased its focus to
include enhancing the stability of the global DNS directly through reliable
F-root name server operations and ongoing operation of a DNS crisis coordination
center, ISCs OARC for DNS. ISC is also engaged in further protocol development
efforts, particularly in the areas of DNS evolution and facilitating the transition
to IPv6. ISC is supported by the donations of generous sponsors, program membership
fees and specific fees for services. For program or donation information, please
visit our website at http://www.isc.org.
Media Contact: Laura Hendriksen, 650-423-1309, laura_hendriksen@isc.org
Technical Contact: Joao Damas, joao_damas@isc.org
About ICANN:
ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system
of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes
like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help
computers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resources
is vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly
to develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability.
ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. For
more information please visit: www.icann.org.
Media Contacts:
Jason Keenan
Media Adviser, ICANN (USA)
Ph: +1 310 382 4004
E: jason.keenan@icann.org
International: Andrew Robertson
Edelman (London)
Ph: +44 7921 588 770
E: andrew.robertson@edelman.com | 
