On Saturday, 25 July, the Internet Society Board of Trustees selected Brian Haberman as its next chair.
Brian first joined the board in 2021 as an Internet Architecture Board appointee. He currently works as a distinguished engineer at Fastly and serves on the NetDev Foundation Governing Board.
A long-term contributor to Internet standards, both as a technical contributor and leader, Brian began his career focused on router and switch platforms. He spent 20 years at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in a variety of technical leadership roles focused on network protocols, architectures, and measurements.
Read on to hear from Brian about his interests, perspective as a board member, vision for the Internet Society, and more.
Q: How Long Have You Been Involved with the Internet Society? What Inspired You to Get Involved?
A: I have been involved in the Internet Society, primarily via the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), for 30-ish years.
It started when my employer tapped me to develop Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) support on a router platform. The base IPv6 standards were evolving quickly at the time, and it was obvious that being “in the room” when the standards were being discussed would make that development effort far easier.
That initial engagement got me tied into other areas of standardization within the IETF, such as Internet Protocol (IP) multicast, routing, DNS, Network Time Protocol (NTP), network management, and network performance measurements.
Q: What Does “the Internet Is for Everyone” Mean to You?
A: Equity. Fairness. Opportunity. I grew accustomed to high-speed Internet access, given the places I had lived. During the pandemic, we moved to a more rural location, and it became quite obvious what limited Internet access looked like.
My home Internet access is via a cellular connection. The reduced connectivity can be challenging, but I at least have some access. I am deeply troubled by the number of people who are being left behind by a complete lack of access.
Q: What Are the Main Challenges the Internet Is Facing?
A: I see three major challenges. Accessibility. Deployment challenges come in many forms (cost, regulation, feasibility). How do we get Internet access to all corners of the globe in order to give everyone an opportunity to get connected?
Lack of trust. Can we believe in or rely on the information we read/see/hear on the Internet?
Fragmentation. The Internet you have access to should not be fundamentally different from the Internet I have access to.
Q: As a Board Member for Both the Internet Society and Internet Society Foundation, How Does Having a Shared Board Help Align and Unify the Two Organizations?
A: Despite being two organizations, their missions are tightly interwoven. The shared board allows for oversight that recognizes the crossovers and dependencies, and helps guide leadership with visibility into both organizations.
Q: How Do You View the Relationship Between the Two Separate but Interconnected Organizations?
A: Symbiotic. I don’t see how one could exist without the other. That applies to more than just the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation. The other entities within the Internet Society umbrella are critical components as well. Each entity has a distinct mission, but those missions are aligned.
Q: How Can Board-Level Strategic Alignment Translate into Real Impact?
A: By focusing on the overall mission and providing input aimed at furthering that mission. That guidance can be developed with a recognition of where each part of the Internet Society family can contribute to the mission.
Each part of the Internet Society has strengths that can be leveraged, and the board has a duty to help Internet Society leadership get the most out of those strengths.
Q: What Inspires You About the Internet Society Global Community?
A: Passion. People not only getting involved, but also getting invested. Enthusiasm is contagious. They see a challenge and they work together to overcome it. That encourages others to do the same.
Q: What’s Your Niche Area of Interest with Regards to the Internet?
A: I can’t say that Internet protocols are niche, but they are a passion. The challenge of retrofitting long-lived protocols with new features is energizing.
The world has changed since some of these protocols were developed and specified, and updating them with new capabilities, especially security-related ones, is not trivial. But it is a necessity given the ever-evolving threat landscape across the Internet.
Q: As We Move Deeper into Our 2030 Strategy, What’s Your Vision for the Internet Society? How Does the Board Help Guide That Vision?
A: Adaptability and resilience. Everyone involved with the Internet Society needs to be ready to react to new threats and challenges. What got us to this point will not be what gets us to 2030.
The board needs to be strategic and flexible so that the Internet Society can continue to make progress against the 2030 goals. It also needs to be looking over the 2030 horizon to ensure it gives Internet Society leadership actionable guidance for its 2035 strategy.