“Looking back on the past year, I truly believe we have a lot to be proud of. In 2010, we worked together to make sure the Internet continued to evolve as a platform that empowers people to share ideas and to connect with others in new and different ways. The Internet Society helped make sure that the tenets at the core of the Internet’s success remain central to the technologies and policies that are shaping its growth. Through our collective efforts, we helped strengthen the multistakeholder approach that is necessary for the Internet to continue to thrive.

The challenges that confront our world are as diverse as the peoples and cultures that define it. The same is true of the technological, governance, and policy challenges we face as the Internet grows to meet the needs of billions of users. Throughout the past year we have seen a number of attempts to shut down or limit discussions on key issues, such as network neutrality, or to reframe the implications of policies, such as those concerning cybersecurity, as protections for citizens when, in reality, some of those recommendations will only lead to a locking down of the Internet. What we learn, time and again, is that the best and most lasting solutions are the ones that we arrive at through cooperation and mutual respect, that are rooted in principle, and that open the door to innovation.

In an open environment, the discussions can sometimes get noisy; perhaps that is the price we pay for transparency. In the end, however, openness and transparency always serve the greater good.

Throughout 2010, the Internet Society has succeeded in establishing and promoting a set of principles that are intended to persuade governments, whatever their unique cultural and political environments may be, to make the decisions that are right for their citizens and for each nation’s future. We aim to continue having that kind of impact in 2011 and beyond.

I do not believe that our successes would have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the Internet Society community, which has continued to grow in every region around the world, with many more Individual Members, Organization Members, and Chapters than we had a year ago.

What we learn, time and again, is that the best and most lasting solutions are the ones that we arrive at through cooperation and mutual respect, that are rooted in principle, and that open the door to innovation.

As the number of Internet users around the world reaches past 2 billion, I believe the year ahead looks equally bright. Our continued cooperation on issues facing the Internet’s development will be critical, but our collective vision of an Internet that truly is for everyone
gives us strength, and promises even greater success.”

— Raúl Echeberría, Chair, Board of Trustees, Internet Society