ICANN selects ombudsman

The Internet's primary governing body has selected a former Canadian government bureaucrat to be its first ombudsman. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said last week that Frank Fowlie will be responsible for independently reviewing complaints arising from outside the organization and attempting to mediate them.

ICANN has drawn criticism for going years without filling the job of ombudsman, a post that is required in its bylaws. The Marina del Rey, Calif.-based nonprofit group is holding its next meeting starting Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa.