| If the old adage is true that what stands behind every | | | | programs. They also make sure these agencies have |
| good man is a woman, what stands behind every | | | | filed the appropriate credentials from each registrar to |
| powerful organization? A committee. Almost all | | | | maintain a proper extension. ICANN also works across |
| organizations that direct everything from software to | | | | different governments with various requirements |
| soda pop, have an advisory or oversight committee | | | | regarding what should be available or usable for |
| behind them creating regulations, monitoring conduct, | | | | domain names on the web. ICANN has collected a list |
| and making sure all the rules are followed. When | | | | of words considered obscenities and blocked them |
| reviewing registry domain names, there is a committee | | | | from Internet use as domain names. ICANN tracks site |
| standing behind that process to make sure things | | | | registants and keeps a consistent eye on the flow of |
| happen in a fair and safe manner. That committee's | | | | questionable domain names through its tracking |
| name is ICANN What is it? ICANN stands for the | | | | systems. What doesn't it do? Although it is the official |
| Internet Cooperation for Assigned Names and | | | | monitor of the Internet. ICANN does have limitations to |
| Numbers. It is a nonprofit organization charged by the | | | | its power. ICANN monitors and reports but has no |
| United States government to work with governments | | | | punitive value. ICANN does report violations to |
| around the world and manage the domain name | | | | agencies which regulate and investigate any kind of |
| system or DNS that ensures every address of a web | | | | fraud. ICANN does not take reports of Internet |
| site is unique and functioning properly. Each domain | | | | gambling, spam, or inappropriate access or hacking, All |
| name has underneath that a series of numbers | | | | of that is done by agencies that ICANN refers to. |
| assigned which locates that particular spot on the | | | | ICANN makes no court appearances in regard to |
| Internet. Because memorizing long series of numbers is | | | | copyrights or domain name registration disputes, |
| neither easy nor fun, the system was created to place | | | | leaving that to other agencies and the domain name |
| names attached to those numbers which we can | | | | registrars. ICANN does not look for content on the |
| remember and use with frequency and efficiency. | | | | web that does not meetin international laws and |
| ICANN makes sure those names and numbers match | | | | stardards. However it does provide access to IP |
| up with valid addresses to ensure the Internet is | | | | addresses and records of website registrants. ICANN |
| working properly. What does it do? ICANN not only | | | | is a valuable resource for information in the continuing |
| monitors individual domain names and registrars, but | | | | efforts of world governments to combat cyber-crime. |
| also monitors domain name agencies. These groups | | | | You can run a business your whole life and never hear |
| take care of most of the space on the Internet and | | | | of ICANN. Yet, they provide a valuable service to the |
| register names and extensions for them. ICANN sets | | | | Internet, making the domain names safe, accessible |
| accreditation standards that the agencies must meet | | | | and accredited. |
| and checks up on their information and accreditation | | | | |