ICANN Expects to get $200,000 Grant

The Markle Foundation is expected to announce a $200,000 grant today to help the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers fund a general election that would give individual users of the global computer network a say in how the Internet is used. The New York-based Markle Foundation recently announced plans to give away $100 million during the next three to five years to ensure that the public is served by the Internet and other emerging technologies. Zoe Baird, the foundation’s president, has complained that commercial interests on the Net have overwhelmed the public interest. Some observers fear that this imbalance is being repeated on the board of ICANN, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit set to take over administration of critical Internet functions whose current board is dominated by the corporate world. This summer, the board outlined a plan to allow any Internet user with an e-mail account to vote for members of ICANN’s board. The group initially said it would cost about $100,000 to organize such an election by next spring. But two weeks ago, it sent a proposal to Markle asking for $200,000. ICANN said the additional money will help it spread word of the elections.