An Overview of ICANNand MSM

Jian-Chuan Zhang
Head of China, ICANNAPIGA 2024

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Agenda1

What is ICANN?

2

Multistakeholder Governance Model

3

Current Topics

4

Engage with ICANN|2One World, One Internet.

Coordinating with our partners, we help
make the Internet work.

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ICANN’s Mission
Ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet’s
unique identifier systems

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3

5

Coordinates the allocation
and assignment of namesin the root zone of theDomain Name System.

Facilitates the coordinationof the operation andevolution of the DNS root
name server system.

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4

Coordinates the development
and implementation of policies
concerning the registration of
second-level domain names ingeneric top-level domains (gTLDs).

Coordinates the allocation andassignment at the top-most levelof Internet Protocol numbers andAutonomous System numbers.

Collaborates with other bodies as appropriate to provide registries
needed for the functioning of the Internet as specified by Internet
protocol standards development organizations.

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ICANN Coordinates Unique Identifiers
Anything connected to the Internet – including computers,
mobile phones, and other devices – has a unique number
called an IP address.

This address is like a postal address. It allows messages, videos, and otherpackets of data to be sent from anywhere on the Internet to the device thathas been uniquely identified by its IP address.

IP addresses can be difficult to remember, so instead ofnumbers, the Internet’s Domain Name System uses letters,numbers, and hyphens to form a name that is easier toremember.

You prefer the IP
address 192.0.34.163 or
www.icann.org?

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ICANN Ecosystem

Community

BoardICANN Org|6

ICANN’s Multistakeholder Model (MSM)
ICANN follows a bottom-up, multistakeholder model in whichindividuals, non-commercial organizations, industry, and governments
play important roles in its community-based, consensus-driven,policymaking approach.

Learn more at https://www.icann.org/community|7

MSM & the Evolution of the Internet

Internet is unique• shared,
for everyone,
benefits
everyone

Multistakeholder
approach togovernanceNo single
government ororganization
controls theInternet

Multistakeholder model = foundation for an open,
secure, and interoperable Internet|8

The Next Billion Users

Internet was the lifeline toconnect with each otherduring the pandemic.
Internet has
transformed andchanged our lives.

>2 billion people remain
unconnected today.
ICANN is working
towards a more inclusive
and multilingual Internet.

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Current Topics/Discussions| 10

Next Round of new gTLDs* New opportunities to obtain new gTLDs, including

IDNs, are on the horizon since 2012.
* The application window for the next round is expected toopen in Q2 2026 (April).
• Applicant Support Program (ASP) application:
Q42024 – Q42025• Applicant Guidebook (AGB) – by Dec 2025

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Universal Acceptance (UA)IDN example: 다국어도메인이용환경테스트.한국
EAI example: 电子邮件测试@普遍适用测试.我爱你UA is a technical practice that ensures all valid domain names andemail addresses, regardless of script, language or character length,
can be used equally by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, andsystems.

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WSIS+20 and Future of Internet Governance◉ICANN launched the WSIS+20 webpage on icann.org andthe ICANN WSIS+20 Outreach Network.

◉The WSIS+20 Review provides an important opportunity toreflect on the progress made over the past two decades andto address the evolving challenges facing the digitallandscape.

◉At the heart of it lies the multistakeholder model of Internet
governance that fosters collaboration and inclusivity among
governments, the technical community, civil society,businesses, academia, and individual users.

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Get Involved and Informed

Attend an ICANN Public
Meeting. 3x / year, ICANN
holds free and open public
meetings in different regions.
Visit meetings.icann.org tolearn more.

Visit go.icann.org/journey
to learn how you can attend
an ICANN Public Meeting
via NextGen@ICANN orICANN Fellowship
programs.

Take a free online course
at learn.icann.org.

Attend events inyour region.

Find and participate in an
ICANN community group
at icann.org/community.

Sign up for ICANN news
alerts and regional
newsletters.

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Engage with ICANNVisit us at icann.org