America Retains Control Of The Internet
Robert Paul Reyes
November 16, 2005
The United Nations (UN) recently agreed to leave the United States with ultimate oversight of the main computers that direct the Internet's flow of information.
I'm relieved that the machines that control Internet traffic by acting as its master directories so Web browsers and e-mail programs can find other computers -- remain under the control of the United States.
If the Internet had fallen under the dominion of the UN, this international body would have sought to manage the flow of information that is a life blood to all those who value freedom and democracy.
The beauty of the Internet is its wild and unmanageable nature. Anybody can set up shop on the Information Highway, you don't have to pay any rent, abide by any regulations, or show any UN bureaucrats any stinking badges.
Most articles covering this story were headlined "Deal Reached on Managing the Internet". You can no more manage the Internet than you can lasso a tornado, although UN functionaries would have done their best to censor and regulate the cyber world.
So for now the Internet remains a free world where anyone can put up his shingle or set up his soapbox.
I take full advantage of this freedom of expression by posting hundreds of my essays online. Long live freedom of speech in America and on the Internet.
Let's make sure America never cedes control of the Internet to an world body that would seek to censor and regulate this final frontier of freedom of speech.
I'm relieved that the machines that control Internet traffic by acting as its master directories so Web browsers and e-mail programs can find other computers -- remain under the control of the United States.
If the Internet had fallen under the dominion of the UN, this international body would have sought to manage the flow of information that is a life blood to all those who value freedom and democracy.
The beauty of the Internet is its wild and unmanageable nature. Anybody can set up shop on the Information Highway, you don't have to pay any rent, abide by any regulations, or show any UN bureaucrats any stinking badges.
Most articles covering this story were headlined "Deal Reached on Managing the Internet". You can no more manage the Internet than you can lasso a tornado, although UN functionaries would have done their best to censor and regulate the cyber world.
So for now the Internet remains a free world where anyone can put up his shingle or set up his soapbox.
I take full advantage of this freedom of expression by posting hundreds of my essays online. Long live freedom of speech in America and on the Internet.
Let's make sure America never cedes control of the Internet to an world body that would seek to censor and regulate this final frontier of freedom of speech.
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