WHAT is it, really?
"The global Internet consists of tens of thousands of interconnected networks run by service providers, individual companies, universities, governments, and others".
It’s a network of networks!
"
What is possible?
It is possible for anyone
to create content, offer services, and sell products
without requiring permission from a central authority.
It levels the playing field for everyone
and it’s the reason why we have a rich diversity of applications and services
that many of us enjoy today."
Who’s in charge of the Internet?
No one is, but everyone is.
"The technical coordination of the Internet has common characteristics:
Open.
Independent.
Run by non-profit membership organizations
that work together to meet the needs everyone."
"This self-regulation has been the key to the successful growth of the Internet and is flexible enough to adapt to changing future needs."
What is possible?
It is possible for anyone
to create content, offer services, and sell products
without requiring permission from a central authority.
It levels the playing field for everyone
and it’s the reason why we have a rich diversity of applications and services
that many of us enjoy today."
Who’s in charge of the Internet?
No one is, but everyone is.
"The technical coordination of the Internet has common characteristics:
Open.
Independent.
Run by non-profit membership organizations
that work together to meet the needs everyone."
"This self-regulation has been the key to the successful growth of the Internet and is flexible enough to adapt to changing future needs."
How does it work?
The Internet Society strives to make the world a better place
by connecting the world,
working with others,
and advocating for equal access to the Internet.
Vision
The Internet is for everyone.
Mission
To promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet
for the benefit of all people throughout the world.
The Internet Society
Facilitates open development of standards, protocols, administration, and the technical infrastructure of the Internet; Supports education in developing countries specifically, and wherever the need exists; Promotes professional development and builds community to foster participation and leadership in areas important to the evolution of the Internet; Provides reliable information about the Internet.; Provides forums for discussion of issues that affect Internet evolution, development and use in technical, commercial, societal, and other contexts; Fosters an environment for international cooperation, community, and a culture that enables self-governance to work; Serves as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the Internet as a positive tool to benefit all people throughout the world; Provides management and coordination for on-strategy initiatives and outreach efforts in humanitarian, educational, societal, and other contexts.
Core Values
The quality of life
for people in all parts of the world is enhanced
by their ability to enjoy the benefits of an open and global Internet.
Well-informed individuals
and public and private policy makers
are the essential foundation of an open and global Internet society.
The genius of the Internet
is that its decentralized architecture
maximizes individual users’ power to choose (or create)
and use the hardware, software, and services that best meet their needs,
and if the Internet is to continue to be a platform for innovation and creativity,
its open, decentralized nature must be preserved.
Enduring and sustainable progress
toward our vision is best achieved by a combination of global initiatives and activities
at a local level that engage people in their home regions.
Technical standards and Internet operating procedures
should be developed and asserted
through open and transparent processes,
with minimal barriers to participation or access to information.
The social, political, and economic benefits
of the Internet are substantially diminished by excessively restrictive governmental or private controls on computer hardware or software, telecommunications infrastructure, or Internet content.
Rewarding and productive
use of the Internet depends on the ability to trust critical services.
Principles That Guide Our Work:
The Ability to Connect.
TThe Ability to Speak.
The Ability to Innovate.
The Ability to Share.
The Ability to Choose.
The Ability to Trust.
Facilitates open development of standards, protocols, administration, and the technical infrastructure of the Internet; Supports education in developing countries specifically, and wherever the need exists; Promotes professional development and builds community to foster participation and leadership in areas important to the evolution of the Internet; Provides reliable information about the Internet.; Provides forums for discussion of issues that affect Internet evolution, development and use in technical, commercial, societal, and other contexts; Fosters an environment for international cooperation, community, and a culture that enables self-governance to work; Serves as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the Internet as a positive tool to benefit all people throughout the world; Provides management and coordination for on-strategy initiatives and outreach efforts in humanitarian, educational, societal, and other contexts.
Core Values
The quality of life
for people in all parts of the world is enhanced
by their ability to enjoy the benefits of an open and global Internet.
Well-informed individuals
and public and private policy makers
are the essential foundation of an open and global Internet society.
The genius of the Internet
is that its decentralized architecture
maximizes individual users’ power to choose (or create)
and use the hardware, software, and services that best meet their needs,
and if the Internet is to continue to be a platform for innovation and creativity,
its open, decentralized nature must be preserved.
Enduring and sustainable progress
toward our vision is best achieved by a combination of global initiatives and activities
at a local level that engage people in their home regions.
Technical standards and Internet operating procedures
should be developed and asserted
through open and transparent processes,
with minimal barriers to participation or access to information.
The social, political, and economic benefits
of the Internet are substantially diminished by excessively restrictive governmental or private controls on computer hardware or software, telecommunications infrastructure, or Internet content.
Rewarding and productive
use of the Internet depends on the ability to trust critical services.
Principles That Guide Our Work:
The Ability to Connect.
TThe Ability to Speak.
The Ability to Innovate.
The Ability to Share.
The Ability to Choose.
The Ability to Trust.
Celebrating People Who Bring the Internet to Life.
Special Recognition:
The Internet Hall of Fame developed with the help of Santa-Fe based PR consultants Robert and Merridith Ingram of Silicon 66.
The Internet Hall of Fame developed with the help of Santa-Fe based PR consultants Robert and Merridith Ingram of Silicon 66.