The Internet Corporation for Names and Numbers (ICANN) wrapped up its weekend meetings in Stockholm early Monday morning with a variety of decisions aimed at bringing its version of stability to the Internet.

But detractors continued to debate the organization's commitment to worldwide inclusion with policies directed at continued U.S. dominance in the Internet sector. In its board of directors meeting, directors voted 16-1, with one abstention, to a nearly 20 percent increase in its operating budget to fund staff payrolls and continue funding current projects. The raise gives ICANN directors paychecks between $100,000-$300,000 and opens the door for directors to hire a full-time lawyer and public relations manager. ICANN's decision to increase its budget, and by extension, its role in the domain name community is being met with growing concern from the international community. The organization, despite claims to the contrary, is just one domain name root server serving the Internet. And an increasingly harsh doctrine of exclusion is not making ICANN any new friends. Len Lindon, an Australian lawyer following the proceedings, said many people outside the U.S. are increasingly fed up with the organization's exclusive policies and until ICANN takes the international community's concerns seriously, a budget increase is not warranted.