As the Internet becomes increasingly essential to politics, commerce and daily life, the debate over Internet governance has evolved from a niche discussion among technologists into a global controversy over who should set the rules for one of the world's most vital resources. As the US Government plots its path forward and reconsiders its special role in overseeing the Internet's addressing system, it is important to determine how the shifting global environment is likely to affect the outcome of any US decision about the future of Internet governance.