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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">I rest my case as to the Congressional hurdles we face and the airtight case that must be delivered to Congress by the NTIA. This question of oversight of(or backstop to) the NTIA supervision
of the Internet is likely to get much more press as the Republican primary proceeds.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Agree with Chris Disspain that the difference between the AoC commitment on location and jurisdiction is going to be an issue but there is nothing we can do about it at this stage – that IS the
Multistakeholder process and either we follow and believe in that process or we don’t. This is why time was spent in Los Angeles carefully reviewing ALL public comments. The process followed by the CCWG – ACCT must be systematic and must be reflective of
the process followed in previous Working Groups. If not, we have zero integrity and zero claim that “The Multi-Stakeholder process is working and is a beautiful thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">I continue to applaud our Chairs for their handling of this Committee and their reasoned approach to the consideration of public comment from all commenters. As previously stated, I personally
support the notion that “tweaks” can be made to the Sole Member model in order to address concerns raised in the public comment period, including comments received from the Board. Further, I would favor an agreement by ICANN to indemnify any director who
might be sued for violating a fiduciary duty for following a decision taken by the Sole Member or for resigning because of a decision taken by the Sole Member.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Let’s face the fact that the entire approved Final Report of the CWG-Stewardship also sets the boundaries of certain Accountability work that must be accomplished by the CCWG-ACCT. Rejecting
those boundaries and starting all over again would clearly be “top-down.” The CCWG-ACCT Work Stream 1 Charter is also a reality which imposes boundaries. A further boundary is the emphasis on Human Rights – which arguably has nothing to do with what is
absolutely the “minimum necessary” for the IANA transition to take place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">We are where we are as a result of our beloved “Multistakeholder Process” so it seems appropriate to ask all public commenters, including the Board and ICANN staff, to embrace these facts as
we also embrace the transition timing that we are urged to honor as another boundary or condition that must be satisfied and must occur “before the storm.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">At this point, it may be appropriate to ask the Board (and Jones Day) to address in writing before Dublin what restrictions on Member powers it would advise to mitigate the risks identified
in its public comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Anne<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Anne E. Aikman-Scalese, Of Counsel</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">One South Church Avenue Suite 700 | Tucson, Arizona 85701-1611</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">(T) 520.629.4428 | (F) 520.879.4725</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:AAikman@lrrlaw.com" target="_new" title="Email User"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue">AAikman@lrrlaw.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"> |
</span></b><a href="http://www.lrrlaw.com/" target="_new" title="Lewis and Roca Webpage"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue">www.LRRLaw.com</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">
<a href="mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org">accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org</a> [<a href="mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org">mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces@icann.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Rosenzweig<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 28, 2015 10:54 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:accountability-cross-community@icann.org">accountability-cross-community@icann.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [CCWG-ACCT] FW: ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Leads Bicameral Letter Asking GAO to Determine Whether Obama Administration Has Power to Give Away the Internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">The below from Senator Cruz is self-explanatory. I have no doubt it will make Dr. Lisse very happy.
</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Paul<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Paul Rosenzweig<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:paul.rosenzweigesq@redbranchconsulting.com"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">paul.rosenzweig@redbranchconsulting.com</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">O: +1 (202) 547-0660<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">M: +1 (202) 329-9650<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">VOIP: +1 (202) 738-1739<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D">Skype: paul.rosenzweig1066<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://www.redbranchconsulting.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=9"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">Link to my PGP Key</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext">ICYMI- </span>
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:white">U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an affirmative determination of whether the Obama Administration’s plan to transfer U.S. oversight of the
Internet violates the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:white">The Wall Street Journal'</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:white">s columnist L. Gordon Crovitz reported on the letter today in his
Information Age column, </span><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/not-obamas-to-give-away-1443386189"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1155CC;background:white">“Not Obama’s to Give Away.”</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext"> Press, Cruz (Cruz)
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 28, 2015 11:54 AM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> RELEASE: Sen. Cruz Leads Bicameral Letter Asking GAO to Determine Whether Obama Administration Has Power to Give Away the Internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><img border="0" width="98" height="98" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01D0F9DE.A4D8C530" alt="cid:image003.png@01D0F9DE.A4D8C530"></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b>UNITED STATES SENATE</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center">
<b>Sen. Ted Cruz Press Office</b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Cruz Press Office: 202-228-7561</b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Phil Novack: <a href="mailto:phil_novack@cruz.senate.gov">phil_novack@cruz.senate.gov</a><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">September 28, 2015<span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.5pt;color:black">Sen. Cruz Leads Bicameral Letter Asking GAO to Determine Whether Obama Administration Has Power to Give Away the Internet</span></b><span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:black">Judiciary Chairmen Grassley and Goodlatte, with Rep. Issa, join Cruz to get answers on whether Administration’s plan violates the Constitution</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:13.0pt"> </span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte
(R-Va.), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an affirmative determination of whether the Obama
Administration’s plan to transfer U.S. oversight of the Internet violates the Constitution.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="background:white">The Wall Street Journal'</span></i><span style="background:white">s columnist L. Gordon Crovitz reported on the letter today in his Information Age column, </span><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/not-obamas-to-give-away-1443386189"><span style="color:#1155CC;background:white">“Not
Obama’s to Give Away.”</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Sen. Cruz said: “Under Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution, Congress has the exclusive power ‘to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting
the territory or other property belonging to the United States.’ If the contract governing U.S. oversight of the Internet is indeed government property, the Administration’s intention to cede control to the ‘global stakeholder community’ -- including nations
like Iran, Russia and China that do not value free speech and in fact seek to stifle it -- is in violation of the Constitution and should be stopped.”</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">The letter is being sent at a time when efforts by both the Administration and Congress, via the DOTCOM Act, are underway to facilitate the transition of U.S. control
over the Internet without an affirmative vote from Congress. In another action to protect U.S. control of the Internet, </span><a href="http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2402"><span style="color:#1155CC;background:white">Sen. Cruz recently filed
the DOTCOM Act</span></a><span style="background:white"> as an amendment to the highway reauthorization bill the Senate considered in July. Cruz's amendment is identical to the original version of the DOTCOM Act being considered by the Senate with one exception:
it would require Congress to have an affirmative up or down vote on the Obama Administration's plan to give away the Internet.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Read the full text of the Cruz-Grassley-Goodlatte-Issa letter </span><a href="http://cruz.senate.gov/files/documents/Letters/20150922%20Grassley%20Cruz%20Goodlatte%20Issa%20GAO%20Request%20ICANN.pdf"><span style="color:#1155CC;background:white">here</span></a><span style="background:white"> and
below:<br>
<br>
September 22, 2015</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Mr. Gene Dodaro</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Comptroller General</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">U.S. Government Accountability Office</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">441 G Street, N.W.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Washington, DC 20548</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> Dear Mr. Dodaro:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">On March 14, 2014, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) announced its intent to relinquish oversight of Internet domain name functions
to the “global stakeholder community.” This proposed transition raises questions about NTIA’s authority to transfer possession and control of critical components of the Internet’s infrastructure to a third party.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">The Internet as we know it has evolved from a network infrastructure first created by Department of Defense researchers. One key component of that infrastructure is the
root zone file, which the federal government currently designates as a “national IT asset.”[1] Creation of the root zone file was funded by the American taxpayer and coordinated by the Department of Defense, and the file has remained under United States control
ever since.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Under Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution, Congress has the exclusive power “to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or
other property belonging to the United States.” One question arising from NTIA’s decision to transfer its Internet oversight functions to a third party is whether NTIA may relinquish possession and control of the root zone file—or any other similar component
of the Internet that was financed and developed by the United States—without authorization from Congress. This concern was raised in 2000 by the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”), which questioned whether NTIA could relinquish authority over the root
zone file and concluded that it was “unclear whether such a transition would involve a transfer of government property to a private entity.”[2] The 2000 GAO report further detailed that the Department of Commerce advised the GAO at the time that “we have not
devoted the possibly substantial staff resources that would be necessary to develop a legal opinion as to whether legislation would be necessary” to authorize transfer of the root zone file. Congress should be made aware of the legal status of the root zone
file—or any other potential government property—before it makes any final decisions about whether to transfer the government’s Internet oversight functions to a third party.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Some observers and parties involved in the proposed transfer have asserted that the termination of NTIA’s contract with ICANN would not result in the transfer of United
States Government property.[3] Others believe that termination of this contract would result in government property being transferred to ICANN and point to a number of factors that would indicate that the root zone file and other contractual deliverables are
property of the United States. Supporters of this position point to the fact that the United States acquired title to the root zone file because it was invented pursuant to Department of Defense contracts.[4] In addition, the United States has long claimed
ownership or control over the root zone file. For example, President Clinton’s Internet “czar” Ira Magaziner asserted United States ownership of the entire Domain Name System because “[t]he United States paid for the Internet, the Net was created under its
auspices, and most importantly everything [researchers] did was pursuant to government contracts.”[5] Additionally the Commerce Department’s contract with ICANN explicitly declares that “[a]ll deliverables provided under this contract,” including the “automated
root zone,” are “the property of the U.S. government.”[6] And Verisign and ICANN contracts make clear that changes to the root zone file cannot be made without approval of the Department of Commerce.[7] Congress has also been actively engaged in managing the
root zone file. Recently, it enacted the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, which explicitly prohibited the Commerce Department from using federal funds to relinquish stewardship of the domain name system, “including responsibility
with respect to the authoritative root zone file.”[8]</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Given this history, we are concerned that NTIA might potentially relinquish ownership of some form of United States property. To inform the Congress so that it may take
any necessary and appropriate steps regarding NTIA’s planned transition of the IANA functions, we would like the GAO to conduct a review to address a number of specific questions.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="background:white">1. Would the termination of the NTIA’s contract with ICANN cause Government property, of any kind, to be transferred to ICANN?</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="background:white">2. Is the authoritative root zone file, or other related or similar materials or information, United States government property?</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:12.65pt">
<span style="background:white">3. If so, does the NTIA have the authority to transfer the root zone file or, other related materials or information to a non-federal entity?</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Please include in this report a description and analysis of the relevant legal authorities and case law dealing with the transfer of United States Government property.
We understand that to perform this work, GAO will need to conduct both significant audit work and complex legal analysis.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Please contact Jonathan Nabavi (Chairman Grassley), Sean McLean (Senator Cruz), Vishal Amin (Chairman Goodlatte), and Veronica Wong (Congressman Issa) of our staffs if
there are questions regarding this request.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Sincerely,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">______________________ _________________________</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Charles E. Grassley Ted Cruz</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Chairman United States Senator</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Senate Committee on the Judiciary </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">_______________________ __________________________</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Bob Goodlatte Darrell Issa</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">Chairman Member of Congress</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">House Committee on the Judiciary</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[1]See, Verisign Company Information: </span><a href="http://www.verisign.com/en_US/company-information/index.xhtml"><span style="background:white">http://www.verisign.com/en_US/company-information/index.xhtml</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[2]U.S. Government Accountability Office., GAO-B-284206, Department of Commerce: Relationship with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (2000)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[3]Letter from Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Sec’y for Commc’ns and Info., U.S. Dep’t of Commerce, to Representative Sean Duffy & Representative James Sensenbrenner,
U.S. House of Representatives (June 11, 2015)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[4]U.S. Congressional Research Service. Internet Governance and the Domain Name System: Issues for Congress (R42351; August 18, 2015), by Lennard G. Kruger</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[5]Jack Goldsmith & Tim Wu, Who Controls the Internet?: Illusions of a Borderless World 41 (2006)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[6]Internet Assigned Numbers Authority Functions Contract between U.S. Department of Commerce and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Contract Number
SA1301-12-CN-0035. October 1, 2012.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[7]See, Amendment 11 of the Cooperative Agreement NCR-9218742 between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Verisign, Inc. Also see, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
Functions Contract between U.S. Department of Commerce and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Contract Number SA1301-12-CN-0035. October 1, 2012.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="background:white">[8]Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Pub. L. No 113-235, § 540, 128 Stat. 2130, 2217 (Dec. 16, 2014)</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal" align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center">
<span style="background:white">###</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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