Milestone Agreement Reached Between ICANN, and F Root Server [...]

Marina del Rey, CA: ICANN and Internet Systems Consortium(ISC) are today announcing the signing of a Mutual Responsibilities Agreementfor the operation of the F-root nameserver.

Effective root server operationsare an essential component in providing a stable and secure, globally interoperableInternet. ISC is one of twelve global root server operators that providea key element of the underlying domain name system infrastructure of the Internet.Essentially, root servers provide an authoritative directory ensuring Internetservices that are accessed with names, for example the URL www.icann.org oremail to info@isc.org, are translated from human readable names into networkaddresses that a computer can find. The root server system overall answerswell over 100,000 queries per second, providing the first step in determiningthe requested network address.

Root server operators have participated inthe ICANN community since its inception in 1998, but to date, there hasnot been a formal written recognition of the mutual roles ICANN and the rootoperators perform with respect to each other. The agreement between ICANNand ISC is the first formalization of mutual responsibilities between aroot server operator and ICANN. The agreement outlines a structure and descriptionof duties and expectations, dispute resolution, and interchange of technicalinformation.

Paul Vixie, ISC's President said "I'm pleased that ISC could take a firststep with ICANN in completing this agreement. Since the creation of F Rootin 1994, ISC has always felt honored to provide this service and is responsibleto the entire Internet community to ensure that the F-root nameserver is reachable24x7. Formalized expectations between ICANN and root operators will resultin a wider understanding of the key operational and stability issues of mostconcern to the root operator community and the Internet community as a whole."

PaulTwomey, ICANN's CEO and President said "Congratulations to ISC for beingthe first root operator to formalize the mutual relationship with ICANN. ICANN'score 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."

BothICANN and ISC expect that this agreement may serve as a model for similaragreements 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 benefitcorporation with a long history of developing and maintaining the productionquality BIND and DHCP Open Source software. ISC has increased its focus toinclude enhancing the stability of the global DNS directly through reliableF-root name server operations and ongoing operation of a DNS crisis coordinationcenter, ISCs OARC for DNS. ISC is also engaged in further protocol developmentefforts, particularly in the areas of DNS evolution and facilitating the transitionto IPv6. ISC is supported by the donations of generous sponsors, program membershipfees and specific fees for services. For program or donation information, pleasevisit 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 systemof unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codeslike .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that helpcomputers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resourcesis vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularlyto develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability.ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. Formore 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