Internet Society

Organization
Type	technical
Focus	Internet Education, Policy
Region	NA
Country	United States of America
Founded	1992
Websites	internetsociety.org

The Internet Society (ISOC) is an international, non-profit organization that promotes Internet use and access.^[1]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers Vint Cerf, Lyman Chapin and Bob Kahn, ISOC leads discussions related to Internet standards, policy, and education. The main ISOC offices are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and Reston, Virginia, USA.

ISOC's mission is to ensure and sustain an open development, use and evolution of the Internet for the benefit of all members and users throughout the world. This aligns with the vision that the Internet Is for Everyone.

To achieve this mission, ISOC focuses on:

Building and supporting the communities that make the Internet work;
Advancing the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards;
Advocating for policy that is consistent with their view of the Internet.

The Internet Society organizes conferences and events all around the world, including the INET ISOC Conferences. Users, technologists, and operators are brought together at these conferences to focus on the development of local and global Internet issues.^[2]

ISOC is considered the parent corporation of Internet Engineering Task Force.

It also plays a significant role in the Internet ecosystem alongside organizations like the Public Interest Registry (PIR) and the Internet Society Foundation.

ISOC Purpose[edit | edit source]

ISOC's founding document, "Announcing ISOC", defines ISOC's purpose as:

The support of the Internet's evolution as a research infrastructure and, also to encourage the involvements of specialized and experienced communities (such as the engineering community) in the Internet's evolution.
To inform the academic communities regarding the use of the Internet and the latest applications.
To represent the home for other groups which are involved in the development of Internet standards such as IETF and IAB.
To encourage and promote scientific applications for the Internet for the benefit of all users, including institutions and organizations who use the Internet.
Ensure leadership regarding Internet issues related to its future.
To create and sustain a forum for discussions and exploration of innovative Internet applications.
To coordinate the initiatives related to Internet development and standards from members throughout the world.^[3]

ISOC Membership[edit | edit source]

The members of ISOC are either individuals or organizations such as governments, corporations and others. In the case of individual members of ISOC, there are no membership fees incurred. ISOC's individual and organizational members are bound by a common interest in maintaining the Internets' viability and global scaling.^[4] From all around the world, ISOC is comprised today of more than 131 Chapters and SIGs; 84 organizations members; and 127632 individual members.

Next Generation Leaders Programme[edit | edit source]

ISOC partnered with the DiploFoundation to create the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) Programme, which focuses on helping Internet professionals between the ages of 20 and 40 to "develop their leadership potential where technology, business, policy, and education intersect". The curriculum is both academic and field based, and components can be completed independently or in conjunction with one another. The programme accepts applicants that have already shown a disposition towards leadership in Internet governance in order to further their potential and create more prepared leaders; it is open only to ISOC members.^[5]

The inaugural 2010 class received over 200 applications, 23 applicants were chosen to participate in the programme's first key component, the eLearning Course. The NGL Programme is sponsored by Nominet Trust, AFNIC, and the European Commission. Additional support has been provided by Microsoft, Intel, Afilias, and Google for the NGL’s Internet Society Fellowship to the IETF component.^[6]

Internet Hall of Fame[edit | edit source]

The ISOC Internet Hall of Fame is an annual awards program to publicly recognize those who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the Internet. There are three categories of awards: Pioneers Circle, for those who were instrumental in the early design and development of the Internet; Innovators, for those who made outstanding technological, commercial, or policy advances which helped expand the Internet’s reach; and Global Connectors, for those who have helped in the globalization of the Internet. For more information about previous years' inductees, visit here.

Chapters[edit | edit source]

By working together in chapters, Internet Society members help advance the mission of a bigger and stronger Internet. Chapters are crucial to ISOC's work, bringing together members to run programs and activities dedicated to making a difference locally, informing policy, and educating the public about Internet-related issues.

They provide unique regional perspectives on emerging Internet issues, share an interest and believe in ISOC's mission, and are committed to furthering its goals and objectives in their own communities.

Chapter Activities

ISOC chapters conduct various programs and events, all supporting the vision of an Internet for everyone. These include:

Educational events: Educating members and the public about Internet-related issues such as security, broadband access, IPv6, child safety, network neutrality, and more.
Community programs: Ensuring Internet access for economically disadvantaged people or those with disabilities, covering areas such as hardware, software, distribution, and best practices.
Public policy programs: Informing policy and decision-makers about Internet issues such as the Internet way of networking, encryption, and access.
Networking events: Helping members connect with like-minded people who share an interest in bringing the benefits of the Internet to everyone.

List of Chapters

References[edit | edit source]

Resources

ICANNWiki: Content Guide | Documentation | Development || Categories: Articles needing attention | Candidates for deletion || Projects: Internet & Digital Governance Library

[1] ISOC definition

[2] ISOC Conferences

[3] ISOC Tasks

[4] ISOC members

[5] Next Generation Leaders NGL Programme

[6] Newsletter, ISOC.org

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