Kelly reintroduces legislation to preserve U.S. control of Internet

Following his introduction of the Defending Internet Freedom Act of 2015, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) spoke Wednesday about the legislation that would prevent the Obama Administration from relinquishing the critical functions of the Internet — which are currently managed by the United States — to any other entity without deep Congressional oversight and satisfaction of a number of accountability requirements.

“Preserving Internet freedom is an American duty, now and always,” Kelly said. “The Obama administration’s plan to transfer governance of the Internet to ‘the global multistakeholder community’ deserves serious scrutiny. A relinquishment of this magnitude must be handled with extreme caution and delicacy.”

The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. McCaul also serves as chairman and co-founder of the Congressional High Tech Caucus, an organization that is vested in Internet security. The bill has been endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the American Center for Law and Justice, Eagle Forum and Heritage Action for America.

“(Due to the security risk involved with the Internet), this bill’s requirements are strict, far-reaching, and non-negotiable,” Kelly said. “They will prevent the Internet and its countless offerings from ever being disrupted by a foreign power or group of powers, including the U.N. For the sake of the Internet’s future, and the billions of people worldwide who benefit from it, we must never allow this vital tool to fall under the influence of any entity that does not cherish free speech and democratic principles as we do.”