ICANN CEO Affirms Free, Open Internet

Last month, European Union society commissioner Viviane Reding called for President Barack Obama to cut ties with ICANN. The group has operated under a Joint Project Agreement (JPA)/Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Commerce since it was created in 1998 has since continued to renew the deal.

Meanwhile, the world's leading regional Internet registries also called for ICANN and the U.S. Department of Commerce to end their agreement last week.

Beckstrom the former director for the Department of Homeland Security's National Cyber Security Center, took the reins as CEO of ICANN Friday.

Beckstrom said he has faith the Internet, which has shown resiliency as an open source of information. "The importance of the Internet as a free-flowing source of information is being underscored right now by the events in Iran," said Beckstrom in a statement after being named to the psotion. "It shows the power of human expression through a free and open Net."

ICANN, is an international nonprofit, overseeing policies and procedures regarding Internet domain names. However, Marina del Rey, Calif.-based organization has been plagued with power struggles and controversies in recent years regarding DNS control and how it should be used to route Web traffic.

"Rod Beckstrom has exactly the sort of strong personal and technical background that ICANN needs, as we enter a period of unprecedented growth and change for the Internet," said ICANN's Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush, in a statement. "In addition to his cyber security expertise, he's been a successful CEO of a global enterprise, done NGO work and volunteer work and a bestselling author. It's an extreme understatement to say we are enthused."

Beckstrom served as director of DHS's National Cyber Security Center, but only worked as the nation's cyber czar for only a year after submitting his letter of resignation in March to the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, maintaining that his division lacked funding and support from the rest of the department. He also expressed concern that the authority of the NCSC, as well as the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), would be superseded by the National Security Administration.

Among other things, Beckstrom said that his division received only five weeks of funding, and "did not receive appropriate support inside DHS during the last administration to fully realize this vital role."

However, supporters feel that Beckstrom's experience will lend itself to bridging communication gaps and addressing concerns plaguing the beleaguered organization.

"Rod's extensive technical and commercial expertise is world class, and I can think of no one better positioned to lead ICANN's critical mission as the Internet's role in society continues to increase in scope and importance," said Google CEO Eric Schmidt in a statement.

Meanwhile, Beckstrom comes to head powerful organization with very little domain name experience. But apparently he has other strengths.

The former cybersecurity czar has been active with other non-profits, serving on the board of trustees of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Jamii Bora Trust, a micro-lending group based in Nairobi, Kenya. He has also co-authored four books, his most recent, The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations, details how diverse and untraditional organizations, can become virtually self-perpetuating, regardless of the status of their respective leadership.

Beckstrom told the Associated Press that one of his primary goals would be to bring various constituencies together, relying on his experience in resolving conflict between various competing agencies.

"The Internet has changed the way the world communicates and conducts commerce," said Beckstrom, in a statement. "And in no small way, this multi-stakeholder, bottom-up organization has been and will continue to be at the core of the Internet's on-going evolution. Quite simply, the proof that ICANN works, is that the Internet works."