[governance] Republican lawmakers seek to halt ICANN transition

[Carolina Rossini]

With link to bill

Begin forwarded message:

3/27/14 4:15 PM EDT

A group of Republican lawmakers introduced a
bill<https://www.politicopro.com/f/?f=25211&inb>to stop the Obama
administration from giving up its oversight of essential
Internet functions today.

The Commerce Department this month announced it would relinquish its
contract authority over ICANN, the group that manages the Internet's domain
name system. The move was blasted by some Republicans, who said it might
give countries like Russia and China more control over the Internet.

The so-called DOTCOM Act, from Reps. John Shimkus, Todd Rokita and Marsha
Blackburn, would halt that transition pending a report from the Government
Accountability Office. The GAO report would analyze the advantages and
disadvantages of the move, as well as the "national security concerns
raised by relinquishing U.S. oversight," according to a news release. Reps.
Joe Barton, Renee Ellmers and Bob Latta also co-sponsored the bill.

"We can't let the Internet turn into another Russian land grab," Blackburn
said. "America shouldn't surrender its leadership on the world stage to a
'multistakeholder model' that's controlled by foreign governments. It's
imperative that this administration reports to Congress before they can
take any steps that would turn over control of the Internet."

Shimkus added, "We have to consider the long-term implications of
relinquishing our oversight role because once it's gone, it's gone for
good."

A spokeswoman for the NTIA, the Commerce Department agency overseeing the
process, did not immediately comment.

*-- Erin Mershon*





-- 
*Carolina Rossini*
*Project Director, Latin America Resource Center*
Open Technology Institute
*New America Foundation*
//
http://carolinarossini.net/
+ 1 6176979389
*carolina.rossini at gmail.com*
skype: carolrossini
@carolinarossini
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