Underscoring Commitment to Free and Open Internet, Subcommittee Continues Robust Oversight of Latest Administration Proposal

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep Greg Walden (R-OR), held a hearing on “Ensuring the Security, Stability, Resilience, and Freedom of the Global Internet.” 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. As part of their review, members also discussed H.R. 4342, the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act of 2014, legislation authored by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), which would direct the Government Accountability Office to study the proposed changes and present a non-partisan evaluation before NTIA is permitted to modify the current Domain Name System.