Jon Postel, 55, chairman of the Internet Assigned Number Authority, the
government-contracted agency that oversees the domain name system, died
Friday night after heart surgery in Los Angeles.
Postel was recovering from heart surgery to correct a heart valve problem.
Postel’s sudden death complicates the Clinton
administration’s efforts to forge changes in the privatization of managing
the global domain name system. Network Solutions Inc. currently has an
exclusive government contract to assign Internet domains names.
As head of the Internet Assigned Numbers authority, Postel was extremely
influential, but also came under fire from detractors.
On Oct. 2, Postel submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Commerce recommending that
the domain system be administered by a non-profit group in California.
Suggested members included top technology leaders such as Esther Dyson.
Postel is survived by four brothers and sisters, his mother and his partner.