FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2015 CONTACT: Kathryn Rexrode or Jessica Collins, (202) 225-3951
IP Subcommittee to Hold ICANN Oversight Hearing
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing to examine stakeholders perspectives on the operation of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization charged with managing the Internet’s domain name and addressing system. The hearing will focus on the rollout of the new .sucks domain name and the Obama Administration’s proposal to transition oversight of the Domain Name System (DNS) away from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Witnesses for Wednesday’s hearing are:
- Ms. Mei-lan Stark, Immediate Past President, International Trademark Association
- Mr. Paul Misener, Vice President of Global Public Policy, Amazon.com, Inc.
- Mr. John Horton, President, LegitScript
- Mr. Steven Metalitz, Counsel, Coalition for Online Accountability
- Mr. Jonathan Zuck, President, ACT | The App Association
- Mr. Phil Corwin, President, Internet Commerce Association
- Mr. Steve DelBianco, Executive Director, NetChoice
- Mr. Bill Woodcock, Executive Director, Packet Clearing House
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) issued the statements below on this hearing.
Chairman Goodlatte: “Just over a year ago the Obama Administration and specifically the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced plans to transition oversight over the Internet’s domain name system to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), raising many questions about the future of the Internet. Next week the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee will hold its second oversight hearing on this matter in order to hear directly from a wide range of stakeholders on the status and impact of the proposed transition as well as other important issues that relate to whether ICANN is trustworthy, accountable and transparent.”
Subcommittee Chairman Issa: “The United States has a deeply held commitment to supporting a free and open Internet, a policy that our nation has recommitted to throughout the years. The future security and stability of maintaining the Domain Name System (DNS) without interference from any one government or organization is crucial to the Internet’s operation.
“As we reflect on our long term aspirations for governing the Internet, we must take the utmost caution in establishing a process to transition to a new form of governance. Before a transition of ICANN can occur, there must be robust protections in place to protect the essential functions of the Internet.”
Wednesday’s hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at http://judiciary.house.gov/. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.
###