ICANN to Stay American For Now

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Commerce said it would renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for oversight of the naming system for the Internet. The current MOU will expire at the end of September, and international groups have called for responsibility of Internet names to be transferred to an organization such as the United Nations. Some within the U.S. government have criticized ICANN and pushed for changes. Rep. John Dingell (D- Mich.) said, "ICANN remains far from a model of effective and sustainable self-governance." Though details were not released, a new MOU is expected to be in force for between one and three years. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) was critical of the Commerce Department's vagueness about a renewed MOU. Nevertheless, Upton commented, "Allowing ICANN to continue to develop under the watchful eye of the Department of Commerce is not only the right thing to do, but the most prudent action, as well."