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Web Surfers Register to Plan E-future
More Chinese Internet surfers are expected to join the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the US-based world Internet resources administrator, before the end of this month.
All ICANN members will automatically have the right to select standing representatives for the new ICANN executive committee, which will draw the blueprint for the Internet's future development.
Each continent will choose one or two representatives to join the 19-member executive committee.
Nine will be selected by on-line votes, and another nine will be appointed by the three main sponsors of the organization. Besides those 18 members, a president will also be appointed to deal with general affairs.
China Internet Network Information Centre (CINIC) called on Chinese Internet users to register their membership at the ICANN website to support China's bid for a seat on the standing committee.
"Only by joining the committee, could China and the Third World have a say when drawing new universal Internet rules," said Hu Qiheng, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"It's time for China's more than 10 million Internet users to show the world their power," Hu said.
Hu admitted that China is a bit late in joining the membership registering process, which will conclude at the end of this month, but she said that she believes "many warm-hearted Internet surfers will support this programme."
Local media and Internet content providers (ICPs) in China began spreading the news after the conference.
Major ICPs have created ICANN signs on their home pages, and people can easily enter the ICANN register pages by clicking on those banners.
The Ministry of Information Industry strongly supports the effort.
Zhao Xiaofan, deputy director of the Information Promotion Department under the ministry, said that the ministry has encouraged Internet users to register to support China's representation.
Zhao indicated China will increase its input into the information industry in the next Five-Year Plan period (2001-05), and China should have its say in the world's Internet industry.
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