On Friday, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., urged the Senate to pass the DOTCOM Act which would prohibit the transfer of Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and control of the Internet to outside foreign governments.
The National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), within the U.S. Commerce Department, has overseen domain names since the late 90’s. At the end of the month, the Obama administration will allow the U.S. government’s contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to expire. After that, the Internet will be run by a global board of directors overseeing domain-naming responsibility. This could allow foreign governments to have a say in governing the Internet and the ability to tax domain names and suffocate free speech.
President Obama’s decision to allow the Commerce Department to let our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with (ICANN) to expire is misguided. It is no surprise that the president has done this without approval or consultation from Congress.
By not extending the Commerce Department’s MOU, an important mechanism that has allowed for a free internet to flourish worldwide, we will be removing the vital checks and balances that make sure no single group, or country, has undue influence over the internet. I have supported the bipartisan DOTCOM Act, which passed the house this year by a vote of 378 – 25. This is the right legislation that maintains the security, stability, and resiliency of the internet.
The U.S. has provided the necessary stability to ensure countries like Russia, China, and North Korea cannot make a move to institute their censorship policies on a global scale. The president’s rushed announcement now jeopardizes the very checks and balances the U.S. provided. I urge Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Commerce Chairman Thune to move the House passed measure before the deadline passes later this month.
U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., was first elected to Congress in 2012.
