The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency charged with information and communications policy, last Friday released a batch of proposals--some quite controversial--submitted by member organizations and states in an attempt, the organization says, to become more transparent as it demands a bigger role in governing the Internet.

Collectively known as TD64, the proposals will be reviewed at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) in December. The conference is a rare event that will update the telecommunications treaty that outlines ITU's responsibilities based on these approved proposals. The treaty, called the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR), hasn ...