Editing Niue (section)

====Internet====
{{POV section|date=December 2023}}

In 1997, the [[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]] (IANA), under contract with the U.S. Department of Commerce, assigned the Internet Users Society-Niue (IUS-N), a private non-profit, as manager of the [[.nu]] [[top-level domain]] on the Internet. The stated purpose of IUS-N was to use revenue from .nu domain registrations to support Internet services for Niue. According to a letter to [[ICANN]] in 2007, IUS-N's auditors reported an investment of US$3 million in Niue's Internet services between 1999 and 2005, funded by domain registration revenue. In 1999, an agreement was reached between IUS-N and the Government of Niue, recognizing IUS-N's management of the .nu ccTLD under IANA's authority. This agreement included commitments to provide free Internet services to government departments and citizens.

A subsequent government disputed this agreement and sought compensation from IUS-N.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06088/677770-96.stm |title=On a tiny island, catchy Web name sparks a battle |publisher=Post-gazette.com |date=29 March 2006 |access-date=26 June 2010 |first=Christopher |last=Rhoads}}</ref> A Commission of Inquiry in 2005 found no merit in these claims, which were dismissed by the government in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36393 |title=Niue government criticised over internet stance |publisher=RNZI |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=26 June 2010}}</ref> Starting in 2003, IUS-N began expanding [[Wi-Fi]] coverage throughout the capital village of [[Alofi]] and in several nearby villages and schools, and has been expanding Wi-Fi coverage into the outer villages since then, making Niue the first Wi-Fi nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wifination.org/ |title=WiFi Nation |publisher=WiFi Nation |access-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227093347/http://wifination.org/ |archive-date=27 December 2018 }}</ref> Additionally, IUS-N provides secure DSL connections for government departments at no cost.

On December 16, 2020, the Government of Niue initiated proceedings to reassign control of its national webspace, .nu, from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to itself. This action reflects ongoing efforts by Niue to assert control over its digital assets amid concerns about national sovereignty and economic benefits associated with the .nu domain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/niue-nu-internet-domain-reclaim-2020-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216002622/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/niue-nu-internet-domain-reclaim-2020-12|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2020|title='Digital colonisation': A tiny island nation just launched a major effort to win back control of its top-level internet domain|date=16 December 2020}}</ref>