The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology advanced legislation on Thursday that would subject plans to implement a multi-stakeholder oversight model for the domain names system to review.
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently instructed the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to explore ways to remove the United States from its DNS oversight role.
In response, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) introduced the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters Act. The measure would direct the Government Accountability Office to evaluate proposed changes before the administration could act on them.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said the DOTCOM Act would help ensure Internet freedom.
“One of America’s greatest exports is our steadfast belief in freedom of speech, and the Internet has allowed us to share this ideal with the rest of the world,” Upton said. “But as we all work to bring the Internet to people around the globe, there are governments and regimes that continue to restrict their citizens’ access to its vast information and communication tools.”
Shimkus said a country like Russia would create “havoc and confusion” if it assumed control of the DNS.
“While I’ve been told the administration won’t move to a multi-stakeholder model that could compromise the openness of the Internet today, they need to explain to Congress and the American people how they’ll guarantee the new multi-stakeholder regime won’t be influenced by foreign governments or the (United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union) tomorrow,” Shimkus said. “We have to consider the long-term implications of giving up our oversight role because once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.”