icann

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is a nonprofit public-benefit corporation that coordinates the global Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including the Domain Name System (DNS), the allocation of IP address space, and protocol parameter registries. It was established in 1998 to transition the coordination of these identifiers from the U.S. government to a private-sector–led, multi-stakeholder framework. ICANN operates through a multistakeholder model that brings together representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, technical communities, and end users to develop policy through inclusive, bottom‑up processes.

ICANN’s core activities include coordinating the IANA functions, which oversee the DNS root zone, IP address allocation, and other protocol identifiers, in cooperation with the regional Internet registries and the broader Internet community. It also accredits domain name registrars and manages the delegation of new generic and country-code top-level domains. Policy development occurs within ICANN’s structure through its supporting organizations and advisory committees, notably the Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO), the Address Supporting Organization (ASO), the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO), the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), and the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC). The ICANN Board, elected by the global community, provides governance and oversight.

In 2016, the United States completed the IANA stewardship transition, transferring oversight of the IANA functions to the global multistakeholder community. ICANN is funded by fees charged to registries and registrars and by other sources, and it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.