[council] FW: House Appropriations Bill Extends IANA Freeze into FY 17

[Phil Corwin <psc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This afternoon I received a call from a journalist who informed me that the 
Commerce Department Appropriations bill being considered in the House extends 
the freeze on transfer of the IANA functions into FY 17, which starts on 
October 1, 2016. (I took the call while driving and am not sure if this is just 
the Committee mark, or whether the bill has been reported out.)

Asked for a reaction, I told him that I was somewhat surprised given the rather 
friendly reception that the House Commerce Committee accorded the transition 
and accountability measures at its hearing last month. On the other hand, the 
appropriators have their own views and priorities and don't defer to the 
authorizing committees.

Speaking further, I observed that if the Senate appropriators went along with 
this it would seem to set up a confrontation between Congress and the 
Administration. Secretary Strickling has previously stated in public that the 
current freeze prevented NTIA from completing the IANA transition. However, 
this White House is well known for taking Executive action in defiance of 
Congressional restrictions.

As the news is just breaking there is no telling how it will be received by, or 
impact the ongoing implementation work going on within, the ICANN community.

That's all I have at the moment.

Best, Philip

Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal
Virtualaw LLC
1155 F Street, NW
Suite 1050
Washington, DC 20004
202-559-8597/Direct
202-559-8750/Fax
202-255-6172/Cell

Twitter: @VlawDC

"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey

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