U.S. loosens control over Net oversight body

" The Commerce Department agreed Friday to loosen its control over the agency that manages the Internet address system, a move that experts called a big step toward private-sector control.

In addition to providing for more autonomy, the accord calls for a midterm review in 18 months, the earliest point at which ICANN could become unleashed from government oversight. "The top line is that this is a major step forward for ICANN to become completely autonomous," said Paul Twomey, the Australian who is chief executive of ICANN. "

However a commentator on CNET says: "I greatly doubt that this will improve things. ICANN is a tremendous
drag on innovation. To suggest that this government-created
monopoly is a genuine "private-sector organization" is a farce." -- Read more