Greg Walden Led #SubCommTech Schedules Hearing to Exercise Oversight of Proposed IANA Transition
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) Chair, House Communications and Technology Subcommittee
“Oversight and transparency are necessary parts of any proposed transition of IANA stewardship to the multi-stakeholder Internet community,” said Walden. “The House has spoken to ensure our oversight occurs before any transition is finalized. We will do our part to ensure this work stays on track and that any transition proposal preserves the open and robust internet free from international government control.”
The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, July 8, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Internet Governance Progress After ICANN 53.”
Continuing their oversight of the administration’s work to transition key Internet functions from the United States to the multistakeholder community, members will hear from NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers CEO Fadi Chehade and discuss the status of transition efforts following the recently concluded ICANN meeting. The meeting – which included representatives from the international Internet community – continued efforts to reach agreement on the terms of the transition plan proposal and changes to ICANN’s bylaws that would be necessary to ensure ICANN is accountable to the Internet community at-large. ICANN is a non-profit corporation based in the United States.
Last week, the House overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation to ensure congressional oversight over any proposed transition. Authored by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), the DOTCOM Act requires that the administration certify that safeguards and accountability measures are in place prior to any transition of stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority and provides 30 legislative days for Congress to review the plan. Companion legislation to the DOTCOM Act was also approved last week by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The Majority Memorandum, a witness list, and witness testimony will be available here as they are posted.
