WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, today joined Reps. John D. Dingell (D-MI), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and 14 other members of the committee today in sending a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez regarding possible changes to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The full text of the
letter is follows:
May 6, 2008
The Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez
Secretary
U.S.
Department of Commerce
1401
Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington,
D.C. 20230
Dear Mr.
Secretary:
We are writing to share our concern over proposals for a
major change in the Department of Commerce's (DOC) relationship with the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). We are
encouraged by the response of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration to the public comments submitted for the mid-term review of the
Joint Project Agreement with ICANN prior to the scheduled conclusion date in
September 2009. We wish to express our views on this important matter for
the record.
For more than a decade, ICANN has played a crucial role
ensuring the stability and reliability of the Internet. Any change that
threatens the important U.S.
role in promoting U.S.
commercial and free speech principles on the Internet can only hurt the
consumers and businesses that count on this network every day.
As a technology that was originally created through support
of American taxpayers for the Department of Defense (DOD), we are proud of the
American origins of the Internet. Growing from its modest roots as a DOD
communications system, the Internet soon found its way to academia, where again
it enjoyed limited use as a research tool. When the U.S. Congress
authorized commercial use of the Internet, an explosion of innovation occurred,
facilitated by significant entrepreneurial investment that has made the
Internet indispensible to modern commerce. Today, literally billions of
Internet commercial transactions and communications occur every day and the
Internet is one of the most important facilitators of commerce. Moreover,
it is a vibrant means of communications, where citizens can exercise free
speech and build community, and where non-commercial, religious, cultural, and
governmental communications, applications, and services are present and
growing.
ICANN's role has changed during this transformation.
Initially envisioned as a collective representative of Internet users entrusted
to oversee the Internet's domain name and addressing system, ICANN has evolved
into a coordinating body to establish rules and procedures that make the
Internet function smoothly and protect the interests of its many
stakeholders.
While it remains the best option for reaching consensus in
an increasingly divided world, we also believe ICANN can and should ensure
transparency and promote greater accountability in its operations. We
certainly hope that the Department will not abandon its role, now or in the
near future, in facilitating the transition of the technical management and
coordination of the domain name system to the private sector. The current
model, which emphasizes private sector leadership,
remains a sound approach to ensure the stability and security of the
Internet.
We request that you respond to the following questions by
the close of business two weeks from the date of this letter:
1. Does
the Department of Commerce intend to continue its oversight role of ICANN to
ensure the stability and security of the core Internet infrastructure?
2. In
what way does the Department intend to continue that role?
3.
Does the Department
intend to ensure that the key facilities of the root server system continue to
be housed in the United
States?
4. The
Chairman of ICANN said in February 2008, at the Department's public meeting,
"Among the respondents there were concerns expressed that ICANN will leave the United States
and seek broad immunities from legal process by third parties or contracting
parties. Let me be loud and clear on this. That will not happen.
The U.S.
for historic and practical reasons will remain ICANN's headquarters." How
does the Department intend to ensure that ICANN fulfills this commitment?
Thank you for your attention to
our request. We look forward to working with you to reach a satisfying
outcome.
Sincerely,
John D. Dingell
Chairman
Joe Barton
Ranking Member
Edward J. Markey
Chairman
Subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet
Cliff Stearns
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Mike
Doyle
Vice
Chairman
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Fred Upton
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Charles A. Gonzalez
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
John Shimkus
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Jay Inslee
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Rick Boucher
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Edolphus Towns
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Anna G. Eshoo
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Gene
Green
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Lois Capps
Member
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2008 |
CONTACT: Jessica Schafer, 202.225.2836
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