[ispcp] US Department of Commerce set to renew ICANN contract

[Mark McFadden]

  U.S. govt renews ties with ICANN for Web domains

By Joel Rothstein/Wed Sep 20, 10:58 AM ET/

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday it would renew its 
relationship with ICANN, the company that manages the Internet domain 
name system, beyond September 30, the date at which a separation had 
been expected.

"We are working with ICANN to negotiate the next phase of our continued 
partnership," John Kneuer, acting assistant secretary of commerce for 
communications and information, said in prepared testimony at a Senate 
Commerce Committee hearing on the future of ICANN.

The U.S. government controls the naming system for ".com" and other Web 
addresses through ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and 
Numbers, a not-for-profit company that decides what names can be registered.

Some foreign critics have urged the U.S. government to give up its 
control of ICANN, saying it has too much influence over what is now a 
global commerce, communications and social engine.

The European Commission accused U.S. officials of political interference 
several months ago in rejecting a proposed ".xxx" Internet domain for 
pornography Web sites, a new address that supporters said would help 
confine and filter such sites.

On September 30, the existing memorandum of understanding between ICANN 
and the Commerce Department will expire but the government has the 
option to extend its control.

The Commerce Committee was also scheduled to hear testimony on ICANN's 
future from Federal Trade Commissioner Jon Leibowitz.