[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 268 Engrossed in House (EH)]


109th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            H. CON. RES. 268

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

    Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding oversight of the 
          Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 268

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 16, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.