MARINA DEL REY, CA - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched its latest round of fellowship program applications for its 34th International Public Meeting to be held in Mexico City March 1-6, 2009, a press release by ICANN stated.

"ICANN is a global organization and our work touches every country on the planet," ICANN's Vice President, Global and Strategic Partnerships Theresa Swinehart said.

“Our fellowship program ensures that as many countries as possible can take part in the ICANN meeting and in the variety of public forums that will be held,” she added.

An example of the diversity supported by the Fellowship program is the upcoming meeting in Cairo. At that meeting there will be 30 fellows from 25 countries, chosen from 89 applications received.

There are 12 fellowship alumni, 11 fellows are first-time attendees to an ICANN meeting and the remaining seven have attended past meetings, but are first time fellows.

Priority is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, and the Generic Names Supporting Organization.

Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN's meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend.

Applications for Mexico City will be accepted from now until October 27, 2008.

ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet.

Source: ag-IP-News