Nominations Open for Prestigious Internet Hall of Fame

The nomination form can be found here, along with further information about the nomination process and guidelines. The nomination period will close April 23, 2021 and inductees will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held later this year.

The Internet Hall of Fame, now in its tenth year, recognizes a select group of visionaries, leaders, and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the open, global Internet. 

Through the work of these individuals, including Vint Cerf, Robert Kahn, Leonard Kleinrock, Tim Berners-Lee, and Elizabeth Feinler, among many others, the Internet Hall of Fame reflects the history of the Internet’s development and evolution. 

At no point in time has the importance of the Internet and its chief characteristic—to connect—been felt so broadly, and so acutely. The critical role the Internet has played throughout the pandemic reinforces now, more than ever, the significance of the people who originally conceived, built, guided, and promoted this global network. It is our privilege to highlight their work and contributions.

Andrew Sullivan,
Internet Society CEO

Individuals worldwide who have played an extraordinary role in the conceptualization, building, and development of the Internet globally will be considered for induction. In addition to those who have been more visible, the Internet Hall of Fame also seeks nominees who have made crucial, behind-the-scenes contributions. 

Criteria for evaluation include:

• Impact: The contribution has made an extraordinary impact on the development or growth of the Internet, and was and may still be directly relevant to the Internet’s ongoing advancement and evolution. 
• Influence: The contribution, relative to the Internet, has significantly influenced: 1) the work of others in the field; 2) society at large; or 3) another more defined but critical audience or region. 
• Innovation: The contribution has broken new ground with original thinking/creativity that has established new paradigms, eliminated significant obstacles, or accelerated Internet advancements. 
• Reach: The contribution has significantly impacted the Internet’s reach among society at large, within key audiences or specific geographies, with global impact.