ICANN 51: United States will not allow the global Internet to be co-opted by wielders of a parochial world view

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, addressing attendees at the opening ceremony of ICANN‘s 51st public meeting in Los Angeles, declared unwavering support for the United States government’s decision to transfer stewardship of the IANA functions to the global multistakeholder community and not to any one single organization. “Let me be clear about this. The United States …

Theory Vs Reality, Rep. John Shimkus weighs in on IANA transition: Keeping the Internet Open and Free

By Rep. John Shimkus on rollcall.com Summary: In theory, this transition follows a long-anticipated, congressionally endorsed plan to empower Internet architects and engineers, civil society, and technology industry stakeholders with the authority to maintain the DNS without government intrusion. In reality, the proposed transition creates an opportunity for authoritarian governments to supplant ICANN with the …

The Internet Power Vacuum Worsens, A looming threat

The U.S. hasn’t even abandoned its Web protection yet, and authoritarians are making their move. by wsj.com The Obama administration plan to give up U.S. protection of the open Internet won’t take effect for a year, but authoritarian governments are already moving to grab control. President Obama is learning it’s as dangerous for America to create …

ICANN: US Senators Thune and Rubio Weigh in on IANA transition, Accountability and Dispute Resolution

In a letter dated July 31, 2014, to the Chairman of the ICANN Board of Directors, Dr. Stephen Crocker, US Senators John Thune and Marco Rubio, of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, commented, with specific recommendations, on the the IANA transition and ICANN accountability. Read Full Letter (pdf) with the exerpt …

Corwin:NTIA’s response to ‘Freedom of Information Act’ requests on IANA transition insufficient

By Philip S. Corwin, On March 27, 2014, shortly after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) March 14th announcement of its intent to transfer its counterparty status on ICANN’s IANA functions contract to the global multistakeholder community, the conservative advocacy organization Americans for Limited Government (ALG) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request …

Phil Corwin weighs in on GNSO “Unanimous” Endorsement for ICANN Independent Accountability

Phil Corwin who writes extensively on Internet governance commented on the recent unanimous GNSO statement at the ICANN 50 in London.  His comments are below GNSO Constituencies Issue Unanimous Joint Statement on ICANN Accountability In an unprecedented development, all stakeholder groups and constituencies comprising ICANN”s Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) unanimously endorsed a joint statement …