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OECD Welcomes Formation of The Internet Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC)

Press Release | Paris, France, 23 March 2009

  • Formation of ITAC Set To Safeguard Internet Development and Innovation Through Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance
  • OECD Recognition for Open Industry Dialogue as a Driver for Safe and Effective Internet Development

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has welcomed representatives from the pre-eminent Internet technical organisations as partners in its work on communications policy issues – a step seen as highlighting the vital need for multistakeholder inputs into Internet-related discussions and the continued evolution of enhanced cooperation among stakeholders.

Referred to as the Internet Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) to the OECD's Information, Computer and Communications Policy Committee (ICCP), the group comprises a broad range of stakeholders from the Internet community (listed below). Through its commitment to the Internet's ethos of community, collaboration, and industry self-regulation, ITAC will provide counsel and the expertise of technically focused organisations to aid the OECD in its work on the Internet economy. ITAC's contribution will be delivered in a decentralised, networked approach to policy formulation for the Internet economy.

"By formally recognising ITAC, the OECD clearly values diverse opinions and open dialogue as vital components for effective development of the Internet," said Bill Graham, responsible for Strategic Global Engagement at the Internet Society (one of the founding members of ITAC and currently the facilitator of ITAC activities).

"The groundwork for ITAC was laid during the preparations for the OECD's Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy, held in Seoul, South Korea in 2008," explained Graham.

For the Ministerial Meeting, the OECD called on various stakeholder groups to provide informed inputs for the ministers' work. The organisations now comprising ITAC worked together to create the Technical Stakeholder Forum, which stressed the role of the open, collaborative, inclusive <