WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) today commented on the administration’s renewal of the United States’ contract for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. As part of the contract, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will continue its stewardship of the Domain Name System while the multistakeholder community continues its work toward a transition of this role to the global Internet community.
“This is an important step. The administration is recognizing, as it should, that it is more important to get this issue right than it is to simply get it done," said Upton, Walden, and Shimkus. “A key component of the bipartisan DOTCOM Act, which was overwhelmingly approved by the House, is to ensure Congressional oversight and provide concrete accountability and transparency measures for the transition. By extending the United States’ role in these functions, we are creating an environment for ongoing dialogue and decision making instead of a rush to meet artificial deadlines. We appreciate the administration’s efforts and look forward to working with them, and the global Internet community, to get this done right."
H.R. 805, the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act, authored by Shimkus, Walden, and full committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), was approved by the House in June. The legislation aims to protect the future of the Internet through Congressional oversight of the administration’s proposed transition of stewardship of the Domain Name System to the global Internet community.
