Panel Suggests Internet Governance Options

The United States stated two weeks ago that it intended to maintain control over the computers that serve as the Internet's principal traffic cops.

In a report, the U.N. panel outlined four possible options for the future of Internet governance for world leaders to consider at a summit in November.

One option would largely keep the current system intact, with a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers, continuing to handle basic policies over Internet addresses.

At the other end, ICANN would be revamped and new international agencies formed under the auspices of the U.N.