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'''ICANN''', or the '''Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers''', is a global multi-stakeholder organization that was created by the U.S. government and its [[DOC|Department of Commerce]].<ref name="icann-mou">[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN DOC MoU Memorandum of Understanding, Depart. of Commerce and ICANN]. ICANN. Published 1999 December 31.</ref> It coordinates the Internet [[DNS]], [[IP]] addresses and [[ASN|autonomous system numbers]], which involves a continued management of these evolving systems and the protocols that underlie them.

'''ICANN''', or the '''Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers''', is a global multi-stakeholder organization that was created by the U.S. government and its [[DOC|Department of Commerce]].<ref name="icann-mou">[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN DOC MoU Memorandum of Understanding, Depart. of Commerce and ICANN]. ICANN. Published 1999 December 31.</ref> It coordinates the Internet [[DNS]], [[IP]] addresses and [[ASN|autonomous system numbers]], which involves a continued management of these evolving systems and the protocols that underlie them.

While ICANN began in the U.S. government, it is now, and continues to strive to be, an international, community-driven organization independent of any one government.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2016-10-01-en Stewardship of <abbr>IANA</abbr> Functions Transitions to Global Internet Community as Contract with U.S. Government Ends]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017. </ref> Their management of an interoperable Internet covers over 330 million domain names, the allocation of more than 4 billion network addresses, and the support of approximately 95 million [[DNS]] look-ups everyday across 240 countries.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/about/planning/strategic/strategic-plan-2010-2013-19feb10-en.pdf ICANN Strategic Plan June 2010 June 2013]. ICANN.</ref><ref>[https://blog.verisign.com/domain-names/verisign-domain-name-industry-brief-internet-grows-to-330-6-million-domain-names-in-q1-2017/ VERISIGN DOMAIN NAME INDUSTRY BRIEF: INTERNET GROWS TO 330.6 MILLION DOMAIN NAMES IN Q1 2017]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017.</ref><ref>[https://system.opendns.com/ OpenDNS]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017.</ref>

While ICANN began in the U.S. government, it is now, and continues to be, an international, community-driven organization independent of any one government.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2016-10-01-en Stewardship of <abbr>IANA</abbr> Functions Transitions to Global Internet Community as Contract with U.S. Government Ends]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017. </ref> Their management of an interoperable Internet covers over 330 million domain names, the allocation of more than 4 billion network addresses, and the support of approximately 95 million [[DNS]] look-ups everyday across 240 countries.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/about/planning/strategic/strategic-plan-2010-2013-19feb10-en.pdf ICANN Strategic Plan June 2010 June 2013]. ICANN.</ref><ref>[https://blog.verisign.com/domain-names/verisign-domain-name-industry-brief-internet-grows-to-330-6-million-domain-names-in-q1-2017/ VERISIGN DOMAIN NAME INDUSTRY BRIEF: INTERNET GROWS TO 330.6 MILLION DOMAIN NAMES IN Q1 2017]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017.</ref><ref>[https://system.opendns.com/ OpenDNS]. Retrieved 20 Nov 2017.</ref>

ICANN collaborates with a variety of stakeholders including companies, individuals, and governments to ensure the continued success of the Internet. It holds [[ICANN Meetings|meetings]] three times a year, switching the international location for each meeting; one of these serves as the annual general meeting when the new [[ICANN Board]] members take their seats.<ref name="meetings">[http://meetings.icann.org/about ICANN About Meetings]. ICANN.</ref>

ICANN collaborates with a variety of stakeholders including companies, individuals, and governments to ensure the continued success of the Internet. It holds [[ICANN Meetings|meetings]] three times a year, switching the international location for each meeting; one of these serves as the annual general meeting when the new [[ICANN Board]] members take their seats.<ref name="meetings">[http://meetings.icann.org/about ICANN About Meetings]. ICANN.</ref>