The main thrust of the report centered on a proposal for the Internet community to come together to form a private not-for-profit organization to manage the Domain Name System (DNS). According to the White Paper, the new entity should be guided by several principles, including.

2. Stability

The US government should withdraw from its role in a manner that did not threaten the stability of the system and a major objective for the new organization was to change the system whilst also maintaining stability.

3. Competition

Market mechanisms that support competition and consumer choice should drive the management of the Internet. A key part of this would be competition in the domain name registering system.

4. Private, Bottom-up Coordination

While certain management functions need coordination, this coordination should take

place to reflect the bottom-up approach of the Internet up until that time.

5. Representation

The new corporation should operate and be representative of all users of the Internet, current and future.
The purpose of the new organization was also detailed.
Set policy for and direct allocation of IP number blocks to regional Internet registries.
Oversee operation of the authoritative Internet root server system.
Oversee policy for determining the circumstances under which new TLD's are added to the root system.
Co-ordinate the assignment of other Internet technical parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity to the Internet.

As stated, the DOC saw the need to have a transitional period during the start-up of the new organization whereby they would relinquish their active part while maintaining the stability of the Internet.

After a period of debates, discussions and negotiations, a memorandum of understanding between the DOC and ICANN was signed and made public, formally announcing ICANN as the body foreseen in the White Paper policy document.

ICANN was formally created, and has been the organization that makes rules governing the Internet ever since. For more information, please visit ICANN's website www.icann.org