The Internet Society is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet-related standards, education and policy around the world.  Last evening, the DC chapter hosted its first event since its recent revival, titled “A Discussion on Internet 2020.”

The event featured:

• Leslie Daigle, Chief Internet Technology Officer, Internet Society
• Eric Burger, Chief Technology Officer, Neustar
• Steve Crocker, Internet pioneer and CEO, Shinkuro
• Michael Nelson, Visiting Professor, Internet Studies, CCT Georgetown University (Moderator)
• And special guest Vint Cerf, known as a “father of the Internet”

Of course, in order to look forward, one has to reflect back.  Accordingly, the event began with a discussion of Internet innovations that we didn’t even dream of only 10 years ago, like Google, Facebook and iTunes.  Leslie Daigle noted that just 10 years ago, Amazon and Ebay were experiments many doubted would succeed.

To what do we attribute such success? Moderator Michael Nelson believes we were successful because of the open and decentralized model of the Internet.  Neustar’s Eric Burger agreed, and believes that despite our tendency to regulate crucial infrastructure, we need to keep our hands off the Internet for now, so we can find out how it will evolve.

Steve Crocker said he’s in awe of how things that were barely possible have become so ubiquitous, inexpensive and reliable. He finds that this faster-better-cheaper world is causing an entire paradigm shift.  His favorite: “The fact that we can communicate worldwide wirelessly!”

For more information from this distinguished panel, including the predictions of Steve Crocker and words from Vint Cerf, watch the video below.

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