Discover Today’s

Internet Society

At the Internet Society, we’re proud of how well the Internet works. Our goal is to keep the
value of the Internet intact for its billion or so existing users and to clear the way for the
Today we are in a new Internet era—an era in which tech-
billions to come. We do that by supporting the work of the Internet Engineering Task Force
and by collaborating with organisational, governmental, and educational leaders to promote nology and policy are indisputably intertwined and in which
sensible and forward-thinking policies that will work to increase access to the Internet. We
training and education are, for many, social and economic
also provide much-needed educational opportunities to give the next generation of policy
makers, technologists, researchers, and Internet entrepreneurs a head start. Much work imperatives. • While the Internet has grown and changed dramatically since
remains to be done, though—especially if we are to realise our mission of ensuring an
the Internet Society (ISOC) was established in 1992, the challenge we face as an
Internet that is available to everyone, everywhere.
organisation and as a community remains the same: how do we promote, preserve,
Together we can preserve the traditions that made the
and protect the Internet’s unique development environment and ensure an Internet that
Internet possible as well as create a future in which tech-
nological innovation can thrive. is—and will always be—available to everyone, everywhere? • At the Internet
For more information, visit us at http://www.isoc.org. Society, we meet that challenge by building relationships.
• For years, we have served as a trusted conduit for bringing together stakeholders

like you to collaborate on solutions. Each one of our ambassadors, organisational

members, chapters, and staff plays leadership roles in promoting the open develop-

ment of Internet technology and in advancing policies that will stimulate Internet

• The
development without imposing unnecessary controls or limitations.
work we do ensures that the path to innovation will
remain open and the playing field will remain level.

A nonprofit organisation, the Internet Society was founded in 1992 as a leader in promoting the evolution and growth of the
Internet. Through our members, chapters, and partners, we are the hub of the largest international network of people and
organisations that work with the Internet. We work on many levels to address the development, availability, and technology of
the Internet.
The Internet is critical to advancing economic growth, community self-reliance, and social justice throughout the world. Become
a member of the Internet Society, and share this vision. For more information, visit http://www.isoc.org.

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Christian Maurer (Berner Presse Agentschaft),
06/08 Amanda Thomsen, and Christophe Wolfhugel.
The Internet Society • Become a Member Today
The Internet works.
And at the Internet Society, we’d like to keep it that way.
It works in spite of the endless technological chal-
lenges, and regardless of how many people use
it, and contrary to conventional business wisdom.
It works because no one owns it and because
no corporation, government, or individual runs it.
It works without a recognized hierarchy, or an
organisational chart, or a headquarters, or a set
of bylaws. The Internet is successful in large
part due to its unique model—shared glob-
al ownership, development based on open
standards, and freely accessible processes
for technology and policy development. It
relies on processes and products that are local,
bottom-up and accessible to users around the
world. In fact, the success of the Internet stands
in stark contrast to how many of us have been
conditioned to think about how success is
achieved.
It’s important to reflect on the Internet’s unprec-
edented success. It’s comforting to know that
something that has become so integral to
our lives and that has so profoundly rede-
fined the way we live, learn, and work is
successful only because it is developed
openly, transparently, and collaboratively.
When faced with the hard work ahead of us,
we as a community should be reminded: the
Internet is not a destination; it is a platform
for innovation. Such innovation is felt in all
aspects of life: economically, socially, politically,
and personally. In its relatively short lifetime,
the Internet has become an essential means for
promoting democracy, health, and human rights,
as well as a critical tool for enabling citizens
to participate and enhance their lives on both a
local and a global scale. It has become a powerful
instrument for promoting charitable and grass-
roots endeavors. And it has inspired an entire
generation to reinvent community and redefine
social interaction.
http://www.isoc.org
The Internet Society makes things happen.
Initiatives forge global partnerships, creative solutions,
and a collective vision for the future.
ISOC’s key initiatives target the critical issues Most important, many of our activities
that affect all aspects of Internet development occur at the intersection of our core func-
and growth. The initiatives embody ISOC’s tional areas—the areas in which technol-
philosophy that the Internet is for everyone, ogy, policy, and education meet. And we
and they provide ISOC with a solid foun- understand that to be effective in our mission
dation from which to positively influence and successful in meeting our goals, we must be
standards deployment, access, business simultaneously rooted and nimble.
practices, and government policies.
As part of the Enabling Access initiative, ISOC
addresses fundamental impediments to Inter-
net advancement, particularly in such areas as
policy, regulation, and access; technical capac-
ity building; and the availability of Internet tech-
Enabling Trust and
nologies in underserved communities. Access
Identity
The InterNetWorks initiative targets the con-
tinued operation of the global Internet in three
critical areas: common and open Internet, global
addressing, and security and stability.
ISOC’s Trust and Identity initiative ensures that InterNetWorks
users’ needs for security, transaction protection,
and identity assertion and management get met ISOC Key Initiatives
Working toward a collaborative Internet
by building bridges that connect the research,
available to billions of users
standardisation, development, and deployment
of new Internet technologies.