EuroISPA
The EuroISPA is an abbreviation for European Internet Service Providers’ Association. It is a pan-European association established by the Internet services provider’s associations operating in the countries of the European Union. Established in the year 1997, EuroISPA now has more than ten member associations with one associate member, and is now the largest association of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The EuroISPA is associated with a secretariat, which is based in Brussels.
The Council of the EuroISPA meets four times annually to discuss various issues concerning the Internet industry of European Union. Due to its ability of reflecting the views of all ISPs of all sizes and shapes from across its members, the EuroISPA is considered as the umbrella association of the ISPs all around the world. It is, in fact, now considered as the voice of all the Internet Service providers (ISPs) in the EU. [1]
Structure
The Council of the EuroISPA comprises of the associations from the EU Member States. Every EuroISPA member elects its representative to the Council and this representative is charged with the responsibility of tabling the views of their respective association to the EuroISPA. Each year, the Council appoints a group of officers comprising of the President, one or more than one Vice Presidents and a Treasurer. These members conduct the duties that would ensure continued functioning of the association. [2] Apart from these, the EuroISPA is also the largest association of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) representing the interests of more than 1700 ISPs across Europe. [3]
The Council also appoints the Secretary General who represents the EuroISPA and is responsible for conducting the day-to-day affairs of the EuroISPA.[2]
Members
Members of EroISPA are as follows:
| AFA | Association des Fournisseurs d'Accès et de Services Internet |
| AIIP | Associazione Italiana Internet Providers |
| ANISP | The National Association of ISPs of Romania |
| CZ.NIC | Czech Internet Association |
| ECO | Verband der deutschen Internetwirtschaft |
| FFT | Fédération Française des Télécoms |
| FiCom | Finnish Federation for Communications and Teleinformatics |
| ICT Norway | Internet Service Providers Association of Norway |
| ISPA Austria | Internet Service Providers Austria |
| ISPA Belgium | Internet Service Providers Association Belgium |
| ISPAI | Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland |
| ISPA UK | Internet Services Providers Association UK |
| LINX | The London Internet Exchange |
Activities
Safer Internet: The EuroISPA has always been an active player in putting forward its views related to the safe use of Internet for children. It has also provided parents and guardians with the necessary tools that would help parents to give the best use of all the good things, Internet has to offer to children. euroispa.orgSafer Internet</ref> As recently in January, 2011, the EuroISPA proposed a total ban of offending web sites rather than merely blocking them. [5]
EuroISPA and ICANN
The EuroISPA was one of the key players in ensuring that the private sector led Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is preserved and enforces as one of the most important factor contributing towards the success of the Internet. The EuroISPA, along with the ETNO and GSMA, expressed its concern to EU over preserving ICANN for the development of the Internet and for efficient technical co-ordination and management of the Internet’s Domain Name addressing systems, which is a core mission of ICANN. [6]