In January, 1998, an agency of the [[Department of Commerce]] ([[NTIA]]) issued what has become known as the "[[Green Paper]]". The document was a proposal which made clear that the agency intended to empower a non-profit entity to take control of the Internet and its [[DNS]] system.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/white-paper-05jun98.htm ICANN White Paper]</ref> The proposal drew criticism from some American lawmakers and other concerned individuals who saw the American fostered Internet about to be handed over to a Swiss entity.<ref>http://www.icann.org/en/comments-mail/icann-current/msg00800.html ICANN Green Paper v. White Paper correspondence]</ref> The revised "[[White Paper]]" addressed some of those concerns but still posited the need for a Internet organization who could respect and foster stability, competition, bottom-up coordination, and international representation; while also establishing appropriate protocol and administrative mechanisms.<ref>[http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rcs/principles.html Harvard Law Document]</ref> The "[[White Paper]]" did not clarify all of the divisive issues but instead called for the proposed entity to utilize its self-governance to decide the issues at hand.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/comments-mail/icann-current/msg00800.html ICANN Greev v. White Paper correspondence]</ref> | In January, 1998, an agency of the [[Department of Commerce]] ([[NTIA]]) issued what has become known as the "[[Green Paper]]". The document was a proposal which made clear that the agency intended to empower a non-profit entity to take control of the Internet and its [[DNS]] system.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/white-paper-05jun98.htm ICANN White Paper]</ref> The proposal drew criticism from some American lawmakers and other concerned individuals who saw the American fostered Internet about to be handed over to a Swiss entity.<ref>http://www.icann.org/en/comments-mail/icann-current/msg00800.html ICANN Green Paper v. White Paper correspondence]</ref> The revised "[[White Paper]]" addressed some of those concerns but still posited the need for a Internet organization who could respect and foster stability, competition, bottom-up coordination, and international representation; while also establishing appropriate protocol and administrative mechanisms.<ref>[http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rcs/principles.html Harvard Law Document]</ref> The "[[White Paper]]" did not clarify all of the divisive issues but instead called for the proposed entity to utilize its self-governance to decide the issues at hand.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/comments-mail/icann-current/msg00800.html ICANN Greev v. White Paper correspondence]</ref> |