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Internet Society
To assure the beneficial, open evolution of the global Internet and its related internetworking technologies through leadership in standards, issues, and education.
The Internet Society (ISOC) was founded in 1992 as the umbrella Internet organization. It is a non-governmental organization, made up of more than 100 organizations and thousands of individuals, with an international mission to foster global cooperation and coordination on Internet technologies, and serve as a global clearinghouse for Internet related information.
The ISOC oversees the other Internet management organizations described in the following pages. It also holds an annual International Networking (INET) conference, and coordinates Internet related public policy and trade activities, regional and local chapters, standardization activities, and an international secretariat.
The Internet Societal Task Force (ISTF) is an organization of people who support the ISOC's mission to “to assure the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world.”
One of the most important legal activities of the ISOC is a defense of the free use of the word "Internet", ensuring that it remains a generic term that is not trademarked or owned by any Individual or corporation.
The ISOC has an international network of chapters in various countries, and
is open to membership from any interested individual. Members receive a bimonthly
magazine called "OnTheInternet", a monthly newsletter called "ISOC
Forum", and discounts on various products and services.
The ThinkQuest competition is one of the ISOC's most well known outreach programs -- an international contest that provides $1 million in scholarships for high school students who develop educational tools for the Web, run in conjunction with the Advanced Network and Services organization
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