The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) is a technical coordination
body for the Internet. Created in October 1998 by a broad coalition
of the Internet's business, technical, academic, and user communities,
ICANN is assuming responsibility for a set of technical functions
previously performed under U.S. government contract by IANA
and other groups.
Specifically, ICANN coordinates
the assignment of the following identifiers that must be globally
unique for the Internet to function:
- Internet domain names
- IP address numbers
- protocol parameter and port
numbers
In addition, ICANN coordinates
the stable operation of the Internet's root server system.
As a non-profit, private-sector
corporation, ICANN is dedicated to preserving the operational
stability of the Internet; to promoting competition; to achieving
broad representation of global Internet communities; and to developing
policy through private-sector, bottom-up, consensus-based means.
ICANN welcomes the participation of any interested Internet user,
business, or organization.