[ga] House Concurrent Resolution 268

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING
OVERSIGHT OF THE INTERNET CORPORATION FOR ASSIGNED
NAMES AND NUMBERS -- (House of Representatives -
November 16, 2005)

---   Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con.
Res. 268 ) expressing the sense of the Congress
regarding oversight of the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers. 

   The Clerk read as follows: 

   H. Con. Res. 268 

   Whereas the origins of the Internet can be found in
United States Government funding of research to
develop packet-switching technology and communications
networks, starting with the ``ARPANET'' network
established by the Department of Defense's Advanced
Research Projects Agency in the 1960s and carried
forward by the National Science Foundation's
``NSFNET''; 

   Whereas in subsequent years the Internet evolved
from a United States Government research initiative to
a global tool for information exchange as in the 1990s
it was commercialized by private sector investment,
technical management and coordination; 

   Whereas since its inception the authoritative root
zone server--the file server system that contains the
master list of all top level domain names made
available for routers serving the Internet--has been
physically located in the United States; 

   Whereas today the Internet is a global
communications network of inestimable value; 

   Whereas the continued success and dynamism of the
Internet is dependent upon continued private sector
leadership and the ability for all users to
participate in its continued evolution; 

   Whereas in allowing people all around the world
freely to exchange information, communicate with one
another, and facilitate economic growth and democracy,
the Internet has enormous potential to enrich and
transform human society; 

   Whereas existing structures have worked effectively
to make the Internet the highly robust medium that it
is today; 

   Whereas the security and stability of the
Internet's underlying infrastructure, the domain name
and addressing system, must be maintained; 

   Whereas the United States has been committed to the
principles of freedom of expression and the free flow
of information, as expressed in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and reaffirmed
in the Geneva Declaration of Principles adopted at the
first phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society; 

   Whereas the U.S. Principles on the Internet's
Domain Name and Addressing System, issued on June 30,
2005, represent an appropriate framework for the
coordination of the system at the present time; 

   Whereas the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers popularly known as ICANN, is the proper
organization to coordinate the technical day-to-day
operation of the Internet's domain name and addressing
system; 

   Whereas all stakeholders from around the world,
including governments, are encouraged to advise ICANN
in its decision-making; 

   Whereas ICANN makes significant efforts to ensure
that the views of governments and all Internet
stakeholders are reflected in its activities; 

   Whereas governments have legitimate concerns with
respect to the management of their country code top
level domains; 

   Whereas the United States Government is committed
to working successfully with the international
community to address those concerns, bearing in mind
the need for stability and security of the Internet's
domain name and addressing system; 

   Whereas the topic of Internet governance, as
currently being discussed in the United Nations World
Summit on the Information Society is a broad and
complex topic; 

   Whereas it is appropriate for governments and other
stakeholders to discuss Internet governance, given
that the Internet will likely be an increasingly
important part of the world economy and society in the
21st Century; 

   Whereas Internet governance discussions in the
World Summit should focus on the real threats to the
Internet's growth and stability, and not recommend
changes to the current regime of domain name and
addressing system management and coordination on
political grounds unrelated to any technical need; and


   Whereas market-based policies and private sector
leadership have allowed this medium the flexibility to
innovate and evolve: Now, therefore, be it 

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the
Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress
that--

    (1) it is incumbent upon the United States and
other responsible governments to send clear signals to
the marketplace that the current structure of
oversight and management of the Internet's domain name
and addressing service works, and will continue to
deliver tangible benefits to Internet users worldwide
in the future; and 

    (2) therefore the authoritative root zone server
should remain physically located in the United States
and the Secretary of Commerce should maintain
oversight of ICANN so that ICANN can continue to
manage the day-to-day operation of the Internet's
domain name and addressing system well, remain
responsive to all Internet stakeholders worldwide, and
otherwise fulfill its core technical mission. 

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2005_record&page=H10332&position=all


		
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
http://farechase.yahoo.com