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class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Root Server Operators</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Root_Server_Operators-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Guiding_Principles" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Guiding_Principles"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Guiding Principles</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Guiding_Principles-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" 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id="mw-indicator-smw-entity-examiner" class="mw-indicator"><div class="smw-entity-examiner smw-indicator-vertical-bar-loader" data-subject="Root_Server_Operator#0##" data-dir="ltr" data-uselang="" title="Running an examiner in the background"></div></div> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From ICANNWiki</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"><span class="mw-redirectedfrom">(Redirected from <a href="/index.php?title=Root_Server_Operators&redirect=no" class="mw-redirect" title="Root Server Operators">Root Server Operators</a>)</span></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p>The <b>Root Server Operator'</b>s <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> primary role is to make sure that the operations of the <a href="/Root_Server_System" title="Root Server System">Root Server System</a> (RSS) is always accurate, available, reliable and secure. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Root_Server_Operators">Root Server Operators</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/index.php?title=Root_Server_Operator&veaction=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Root Server Operators" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/index.php?title=Root_Server_Operator&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section's source code: Root Server Operators"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <p>There are twelve Root Server Operators in the database of the root zone<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>, which include: </p><p>A/J - <a href="/Verisign" title="Verisign">Verisign, Inc.</a> </p><p>B - <a href="/University_of_Southern_California_%E2%80%93_Information_Sciences_Institute" title="University of Southern California – Information Sciences Institute">University of Southern California – Information Sciences Institute</a> </p><p>C - <a href="/Cogent_Communications" title="Cogent Communications">Cogent Communications</a> </p><p>D - <a href="/University_of_Maryland_%E2%80%93_ACIGS" title="University of Maryland – ACIGS">University of Maryland</a> </p><p>E - <a href="/NASA_Ames_Research_Center" title="NASA Ames Research Center">NASA (Ames Research Center)</a> </p><p>F - <a href="/Internet_Systems_Consortium" title="Internet Systems Consortium">Internet Systems Consortium Inc.</a> </p><p>G - <a href="/Defense_Information_Systems_Agency" title="Defense Information Systems Agency">US Department of Defense (NIC)</a> </p><p>H - <a href="/U.S._Army_Research_Lab" title="U.S. Army Research Lab">US Army (Research Lab)</a> </p><p>I - <a href="/Netnod" title="Netnod">Netnod</a> </p><p>K - <a href="/RIPE_NCC" class="mw-redirect" title="RIPE NCC">RIPE NCC</a> </p><p>L - <a href="/ICANN" title="ICANN">ICANN</a> </p><p>M - <a href="/WIDE_Project" title="WIDE Project">WIDE Project</a> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Guiding_Principles">Guiding Principles</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/index.php?title=Root_Server_Operator&veaction=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Guiding Principles" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/index.php?title=Root_Server_Operator&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section's source code: Guiding Principles"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ol><li>To remain a global network, the Internet requires a globally unique public namespace.</li> <li><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="7a11d20162183065066be0792416c70b">IANA</a> is the source of DNS root data.</li> <li>The RSS must be a stable, reliable, and resilient platform for the DNS service to all users.</li> <li>Diversity of the root server operations is a strength of the overall system.</li> <li>Architectural changes should result from technical evolution and demonstrated technical need.</li> <li>The <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="mw-lingo-term" data-lingo-term-id="8156eae38e17275f0d4e90ae1051c2ab">IETF</a> defines technical operation of the DNS protocol.</li> <li>RSOs must operate with integrity and an ethos demonstrating a commitment to the common good of the Internet.</li> <li>RSOs must be transparent.</li> <li>RSOs must collaborate and engage with their stakeholder community.</li> <li>RSOs must be autonomous and independent.</li> <li>RSOs must be neutral and impartial.</li></ol> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li 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