The Role of ISOC in Internet Governance

The Internet Society is a professional membership society that was formed in 1992. It is one of the starring organizations that control Internet: Who Controls Internet?
By 2002, ten years later, the number of individual members, alone, was approximately 11,000 and in over 180 countries. As you are reading this, ISOC - with offices near Washington DC, USA and in Geneva, Switzerland, has more than 80 organizational and more than 28,000 individual membership base.

What's ISOC's Mission?
"To assure the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people through out the world."

How does ISOC govern the Internet?
The Internet Society is an active global network organization that conducts a great range of activities with the aim to help promote and pursue its mission, in all parts of the Internet and in all parts of the world.

Have I answered the question yet? No. I'm just getting started, but I promise to be brief and straight to the point.

ISOC works under 3 main categories, namely:

Standards: Other than supporting the work of the 4 standards setting bodies, ISOC also seeks to promote the understanding and appreciation of the Internet model of open, transparent processes and consensus-based decision making. The Standards setting organizations include:

• Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
• Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
• Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).
• Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).

Public Policy: Working together with governments, national and international organizations, Civil society, private sector and other parties, ISOC promotes policies about the Internet that conform to its core values.

Education: The ISOC;

1. Coordinates and delivers hands-on training, seminars and conferences on topical Internet issues.
2. Supports local and regional Internet organizations.
3. Issues briefings and white paper on Internet technologies.
4. Funds participation opportunities for Internet experts in developing countries.

ISOC's membership is open to individuals, organizations, and even groups which may form chapters according to either region or special interests.
For more details, check out Chapter membership.

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