It is important for Congress to ensure that any final Continuing Resolution does not delay or block the transition. A delay could actually increase – not decrease – the possibility of international government control of the Internet and will signal to the global community that we do not believe in the multistakeholder model of governance . . . We urge Congress to say #yestoIANA.
Here’s Who Else Is Saying #yestoIANA
It’s time to show that the Internet doesn’t require government oversight. What it requires is operation by the private sector, together with all of the other entities, that’s why multistakeholder operation is important.
A global, interoperable and stable Internet is essential for our economic and national security, and we remain committed to completing the nearly twenty year transition to the multi-stakeholder model that will best serve U.S. interests.
The Chamber continues to support the long-planned transition of the IANA functions along with needed improvements to enhance ICANN accountability. The recently agreed proposal appears to achieve binding, legally enforceable accountability that will benefit the multi-stakeholder community.
By transitioning the IANA functions to the multistakeholder internet community in ICANN there is no hand-over to governments, but rather an overdue recognition that the multistakeholder management of the internet is working just fine.
The best way to preserve Internet freedom is to depend on the community of stakeholders who own, operate, and transact business and exchange information over the myriad of networks that comprise the Internet.
Our assessment, as the oldest technical community using the IANA functions, is that the transition plan is fit for purpose and that the IANA stewardship transition should go forward as planned on September 30, 2016.
ICC BASIS called for any proposal for a path towards transition to maintain the security, stability and integrity of the Internet and be sourced from and supported by the breadth of the multistakeholder community. We believe that the proposals put forward have met those criteria.
Contrary to political opposition, to block or delay this process would have worldwide implications for human rights and undermine U.S. interests and values.
We believe that executing upon the IANA transition is the best way to ensure the continued functionality of the global Internet and to protect the free flow of information so essential to human rights protection.
Any delay (of the IANA transition) would add a degree of instability and make the prospect of government control of the Internet more likely, not less.
Completing the transition will bolster the power of the Internet and will help facilitate access to the world’s most powerful engine of social and economic growth for millions of people.
The transition is not a radical proposal being rushed through by President Obama. The transition has been the policy of the U.S. Government for nearly two decades spanning three administrations.
A successful IANA transition will strengthen the collaborative, multistakeholder model of governance that has been at the foundation of the Internet’s success to date. The Internet Society is confident that this can be done in a way that allows the contract to expire at the end of September 2016.