US Net founder elected to ICANN board

Despite rumours that the first elected ICANN board would accommodate no US citizens, Net founder and bona fide Son of Uncle Sam Vinton Cerf was elected to the last available seat. Cerf, one of the Net's co-developers responsible for TCP/IP protocol, is currently senior VP of Internet architecture and technology for MCI Worldcom. The ICANN board elections have proven unpopular on Capitol Hill, where members of Congress worry that its make-up would be a bit more appropriate for the Rainbow Coalition than for a body governing what many believe is chiefly an American property. Some have suggested that by establishing ICANN, the Clinton Administration has inadvertently given away a resource developed and cultivated by Americans, for Americans. House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (Republican, Virginia) is said to be considerably less than thrilled with the election results. It was Bliley's committee that heard testimony in July on the topic "Domain Name System Privatization: Is ICANN Out of Control?" Cerf may not turn out the last American to be seated on the board, however, as another nine seats have yet to be filled. We can expect numerous warning growls from the Hill as that process gets under way. ®