Bitstream charter email

A blast from the past!

The Bitstream Charter email was a significant event in the history of the internet. Here's a brief summary:

What was the Bitstream Charter?

The Bitstream Charter was a proposal sent by Jon Postel, a renowned computer scientist and network engineer, to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 1995. The charter outlined a plan to create a new, more efficient way to manage the Domain Name System (DNS) and the allocation of IP addresses.

The problem

At the time, the DNS and IP address allocation were managed by a single individual, Jon Postel, who was responsible for maintaining the master database of IP addresses and domain names. This system was becoming increasingly cumbersome and vulnerable to errors.

The solution

The Bitstream Charter proposed the creation of a new, decentralized system for managing DNS and IP addresses. The plan involved:

  1. Creating a new, more efficient database management system for DNS and IP addresses.
  2. Establishing a new organization, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to oversee the management of DNS and IP addresses.
  3. Transferring the responsibility for managing DNS and IP addresses from Jon Postel to ICANN.

The impact

The Bitstream Charter email was a significant turning point in the history of the internet. It led to the creation of ICANN, which has since become the global authority for managing DNS and IP addresses. The charter also paved the way for the development of new technologies and innovations in the internet infrastructure.

The email

The original Bitstream Charter email is still available online. It's a fascinating read, providing insight into the technical and organizational challenges faced by the early internet pioneers. You can find the email on various online archives, including the Internet Society's website.

In summary, the Bitstream Charter email was a groundbreaking proposal that helped shape the future of the internet by introducing a more efficient and decentralized system for managing DNS and IP addresses.