The Internet Ecosystem

The Internet is successful in large part due to its unique model: shared global ownership, open standards development, and freely accessible processes for technology and policy development.

The Internet’s unprecedented success continues to thrive because the

Internet model is open, transparent, and collaborative. The model relies on processes and products that are local, bottom-up and accessible to users around the world.

http://www.isoc.org County-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) ccTLDs but are not limited to, the RIRs, ICANN, regional Network Operators Network Operators include are operated according to local policies that are and national network operators, and the Network companies that provide access to the Internet. normally adapted to the country or territory Startup Resource Centre (NSRC), as well as Regional Network Operator Groups (NOGs) provide involved. http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ vendors such as Afilias Limited, Alcatel-Lucent, collaboration and consultative opportunities for Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft. local operators and among NOGs globally. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) gTLD registries operate sponsored and unsponsored Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) The IRTF’s Other Policy Discussion Forums Organizations generic Top-Level Domains according to ICANN mission is to promote research of importance to include, but are not limited to, the Internet policies. the evolution of the future Internet by creating Governance Forum (IGF) and the Organisation http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/# focused, long-term, and small Research Groups for Economic Co-operation and Development working on topics related to Internet protocols, Governments Federal, state and local governments (OECD), as well as national consultative forums, applications, architecture, and technology. and their regulators have roles in setting policies on industry associations, and civil society http://www.irtf.org/ issues from Internet deployment to Internet usage. organizations. Internet Society (ISOC) ISOC promotes the Governmental Regional Organizations Govern­ Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) RIRs oversee evolution and growth of the global Internet. mental regional organizations include, but are not the allocation and registration of Internet number Through members, chapters, and partners, they are limited to, the African Union, the Asia-Pacific resources within a particular region of the world. the hub of the largest international network of Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Pacific Each RIR is a member of the Number Resource people and organizations that work with the Telecommunity, the Caribbean Telecommunication Organization (NRO). RIRs include AfriNIC, the Internet. http://www.internetsociety.org/ Union (CTU), the Commonwealth of Nations, the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (AP­ European Union (EU), and the Inter-American Tele­ ISOC Chapters ISOC Chapters localize ISOC’s core NIC), the American Registry for Internet Numbers communication Commission (CITEL). Governments values and promote the Internet for their local com­ (ARIN), the Latin American and Caribbean Internet sometimes like to coordinate policies related to the munities. http://www.internetsociety.org/who- Addresses Registry (LACNIC) and the RIPE Net­ Internet for their regions. we-are/chapters work Coordination Centre. http://www.nro.net/ Internet Architecture Board (IAB) The IAB is ISOC Individual Members ISOC Individual Root Servers DNS root name servers reliably chartered as a committee of the Internet Members show commitment to ISOC’s vision. publish the contents of one small file called a Engineering Task Force (IETF) and as an advisory http://www.internetsociety.org/who-we- root zone file to the Internet. This file is at the body of the Internet Society (ISOC). Its are/our-members apex of a hierarchical distributed database responsibilities include architectural oversight of called the Domain Name System (DNS), which ISOC Organization Members ISOC Organization IETF activities, Inter­ net Standards Process Members support and contribute to ISOC and is used by almost all Internet applications to oversight and appeal, and the appointment of the understand the need to take action collectively translate world­ wide unique names like RFC Editor. The IAB is also responsible for the to ensure the Internet remains open, accessible, www.isoc.org into other identifiers; the web, e- management of the IETF proto­ col parameter trusted, and secure. mail, and other services use the DNS. registries. http://www.iab.org/ http://www.internetsociety.org/get- http://www.root-servers.org/ Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) IANA involved/join-community/organisations-and- Service Creators/Vendors Service Creators and is responsible for the global coordination of the corporations Vendors provide software applications and Domain Name System (DNS) Root, Internet International Telecommunication Union experiences that utilize the Internet. Protocol (IP) addressing, and other Internet Telecommunication Standarisation Sector (ITU-T) protocol resources. http://www.iana.org/ Specialized Standards Bodies Many organizations The ITU­ T regularly convenes specialists drawn focus on specialized standards; some play key roles Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and from industry, the public sector, and R&D entities in the Internet. These organizations include, but are ICANN is a not-for-profit public- Numbers (ICANN) worldwide to develop technical specifications not limited to, the European Telecommunications benefit corporation that coordinates the system that ensure that each piece of communications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Identity Commons, of unique names and numbers needed to keep the systems can interoperate seamlessly with the the IEEE Standards Association, the ISO ANSI, the Internet secure, stable, and interoperable. It pro­ myriad elements that make up today’s complex Liberty Alliance Project, Open Source motes competition and develops policy on the ICT networks and services. Communities, and the Organization for the Internet’s unique identifiers through its http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/ Advancement of Structured Information Standards coordination role of the Internet’s naming system. Internet Exchange Points (IXP) Regional and (OASIS). http://www.icann.org/ national IXPs provide physical infrastructure Universities and Academic Institutions Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) The IETF is that allows network operators to exchange Historically and continuing today, academic a large, open, international community of network Internet traffic between their networks by means institutions play a critical role in educating designers, operators, vendors, and of mutual peering agreements. students and business people. They also prototype researchers concerned with the evolution of Multilateral Institutions and Development and demonstrate hardware and software solutions the Internet architecture and the smooth Agencies Multilateral institutions include that benefit the Internet. operation of the Internet. It is open to any organizations that have multiple countries working interested individual. http://www.ietf.org/ Users People and organizations that use the Inter­ in concert on Internet issues for policy net or provide services to others via the Internet. Internet Community Organizations and Businesses development, education and capacity building. Many Internet organizations and businesses Organizations include, but are not limited to, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) W3C is an encourage, train, and invest in Internet International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the international consortium where Member education and capacity building. Organizations ITU’s Development Sec­ tor (ITU-D), the United organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work include, Nations’ UNESCO, and the World Intellectual together to develop Web standards. Property Organization (WIPO). http://www.w3.org

The Internet Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. With offices in Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. More information is available at: http://InternetSociety.org.

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