Do you know someone who has played a significant role in the development and advancement of the open, global Internet? Organizations and individuals from around the world are invited to submit nominations to the Internet Hall of Fame.
2017 marks a significant milestone for the Internet Society as we celebrate 25 years of dedication to an open, secure Internet that benefits all people throughout the world. The Internet has come a long way since its earliest days, and the Internet Hall of Fame honors a select group of visionaries and innovators who were instrumental in the Internet’s development and advancement along the way.
When the Internet Hall of Fame was launched, PC Magazine called that very first inductee class—which included Internet luminaries such as Vint Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee—“Internet rock stars” who were, according to MSNBC, operating on a “whole different level of cool.”
This was a fitting description. The Internet Hall of Fame celebrates people who made the Internet possible, with innovations that enabled people all over the world to connect to this life-changing global network of networks. Now in its fourth year, the Internet Hall of Fame is led by an Advisory Board of past inductees who provide leadership in refining the program’s direction and selection process.
As we open nominations, do you know someone deserving of recognition for the technological innovations they conceived, communities they networked, or work that has impacted our lives…and the lives of others in places near and far?
Nominees are considered for induction into one of three categories:
- Pioneers: Individuals who were instrumental in the design and development of the Internet with exceptional achievements that impacted the Internet’s advancement and evolution.
- Innovators: Individuals who made outstanding technological, commercial, regulatory or policy advances and helped to expand the Internet’s positive impact on the lives of others.
- Global Connectors: Individuals who have made major contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet, either on a global scale or within a specific region that resulted in global impact.
The Internet’s very DNA originates from the fabric of a collaborative, global community that fought hard at the Internet’s inception to make it open and inclusive. We all benefit today from the contributions of individuals who helped shape the global Internet with their innovative ideas, groundbreaking technologies, and collaborative work to connect more people and countries.
It’s time to honor these inspiring leaders for their foresight, creativity, dedication, and achievements. We look forward to welcoming the next class of inductees in September as a cornerstone to the Internet Society’s 25th anniversary celebration.
The deadline for nominations for the Internet Hall of Fame’s 2017 inductee class closes March 15.
Please visit internethalloffame.org to find out more about how to make a nomination.