Defending the Multistakeholder Model of Internet Policymaking and Governance

[Commentary] On March 14, 2014, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its intent to transition key Internet domain name functions to the global multistakeholder community. As the first step, NTIA asked the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to convene global stakeholders to develop a proposal to transition the current role played by NTIA in the coordination of the Internet’s domain name system (DNS). Some have argued that what NTIA is doing is tantamount to “giving away the Internet”. On April 2, the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on the NTIA’s announcement. In a press release after the hearing, Subcommittee leadership said, “Members sought answers regarding the Obama administration’s proposal instructing the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to explore ways to remove the United States from its oversight role of the Domain Name System and replace it with a different multistakeholder governance model. Members expressed concern about any change that could leave the Internet vulnerable to power grabs from international governments and sought commitments that the administration would not permit any outcome that fails to protect the ideals of Internet freedom and openness.”