DC Constituencies Start to Coalesce on Principles for the IANA Transition and Enhanced ICANN Accountability

Philip CorwinCongress, ICANN, NTIA

  It is now being broadly acknowledged that, as expressed unanimously by all GNSO constituencies at the recent ICANN London meeting, “as part of the IANA transition, the multi-stakeholder community has the opportunity and responsibility to propose meaningful accountability structures that go beyond just the IANA-specific accountability issues”. In a July 22nd Keynote Address at the American Enterprise Institute, NTIA …

Senate Appropriators Add IANA Transition Language as House Requests GAO Study and Civil Society Groups Oppose Shimkus Amendment

Philip CorwinCongress, IANA, ICANN, Law & Policy, NTIA

The Senate Appropriations Committee just reported out on June 5th its version of the Commerce-Justice-State Departments Appropriations bill for FY 15. In the course of its deliberations it added a consensus amendment on the IANA transition offered by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE). The amendment reads:   1. Amendment proposed by Senator Johanns On page 24 of the report, in the …

Second House Amendment Ups the Stakes on IANA Transition

Philip CorwinCongress, IANA, ICANN, Law & Policy, NTIA

The House of Representatives has passed another measure related to the proposed IANA functions transition, and has again attached it to “must pass” legislation. This move ups the ante and may well be the final straw that compels the Senate Commerce Committee to hold its own oversight hearing on the IANA transition proposal. On May 30th the House adopted the …

DOTCOM Act Passes House as Rubio Leads Senate Call for IANA Oversight Hearings

Philip CorwinCongress, IANA, ICANN, Law & Policy, NTIA

The Shimkus Amendment to the $601 billion National Defense Authorization Act (HR 4435) passed the House of Representatives yesterday on a mostly partisan vote of 245 – 177. While all 228 Republicans present and voting supported the amendment only 17 Democrats voted “aye”, with 177 in opposition. Final passage on the entire bill was a bipartisan vote of 325-98. The …

House Committees Taking Aim at IANA Transition Proposal

Philip CorwinCongress, IANA, ICANN, Law & Policy, NTIA

In an unanticipated move a third Committee of the US House of Representatives has weighed in with concerns regarding the NTIA’s proposed transition of the US role as counterparty to ICANN’s IANA functions contract to one with the “global multistakeholder community”. On May 13th the House Armed Services Committee Report for HR 4435, the Defense Authorization bill, was released. It …