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Friday, September 30, 2005 

UN Wants US to Give Up Internet Control (But We Invented It, So How About NO?)

GENEVA (AP)- A senior U.S. official rejected calls on Thursday for a U.N. body to take over control of the main computers that direct traffic on the Internet, reiterating U.S. intentions to keep its historical role as the medium's principal overseer. [...] Many countries, particularly developing ones, have become increasingly concerned about the U.S. control, which stems from the country's role in creating the Internet as a Pentagon project and funding much of its early development.

Now the crux of the situation:

Some negotiators from other countries said there was a growing sense that a compromise had to be reached and that no single country ought to be the ultimate authority over such a vital part of the global economy. Some countries have been frustrated that the United States and European countries that got on the Internet first gobbled up most of the available addresses required for computers to connect, leaving developing nations with a limited supply to share. (Read: It's not fair!)

And finally some true sentiment:

They also want greater assurance that as they come to rely on the Internet more for governmental and other services, their plans won't get derailed by some future U.S. policy.

Once again, the world is saying “Thanks for making something so crucial, not give it up so we don’t have to keep paying homage to you. We don’t care if you invented it, let go of control and let the “world body” run things… Um, how about NO?

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