- ICANN has initiated an Emergency Assistance Program to ensure Internet infrastructure access during crises, aligning with ongoing initiatives and fulfilling a board request.
- ICANN has forged agreements with key organisations, including the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), NetHope, and Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), to bolster internet accessibility in resource-limited situations.
- The Emergency Assistance Program channels funds to ensure Internet availability and recovery during emergencies, enhancing security, stability, and resilience while managing unique identifiers.
ICANN has launched an Emergency Assistance Program to ensure Internet infrastructure access during crises, fulfilling a board request and aligning with its ongoing initiatives.
ICANN forges agreements with key organisations
ICANN invited eligible organisations to submit expressions of interest focused on aiding internet access and recovery during natural disasters and human-caused emergencies last year.
ICANN now announced that master service agreements have been signed with three qualifying organizations, prepared to support internet accessibility in situations where resources may be lacking, including the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), NetHope, and Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF).
Also read: What is ICANN? Inside the non-profit org that ensures the stability of the internet
What is Emergency Assistant Program?
ICANN’s Emergency Assistance Program for Continued Internet Access channels funds to ensure internet availability and recovery for local communities during significant emergencies and disasters.
This initiative seeks to enhance internet security, stability, and resilience, as well as manage unique identifiers, by providing financial resources to sustain accessibility when operators or relevant stakeholders lack adequate resources.
Also read: Can Africa’s internet infrastructure cope with the future?
Key member details
The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) forms an interagency network comprising humanitarian, governmental, and private organizations. Led by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), ETC ensures swift global emergency response.
NetHope, a consortium of over 65 global nonprofits and 50 tech partners, delivers substantial international aid, impacting 1.67 billion people across 190 countries.
Established in 1998, Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) solves emergency response technologies, providing communication services during humanitarian crises to support rapid response efforts globall
ICANN’s budget
The Emergency Assistance Program’s funding will only be utilised in response to specific crisis situations meeting established criteria, contingent upon fund availability. ICANN has the potential to allocate a maximum of $1 million annually to the program, sourced from both small and large contributions.
