[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 50 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 50

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas given the importance of the Internet to the global economy, it is 
        essential that the Internet remain stable, secure, and free from 
        government control;
Whereas the world deserves the access to knowledge, services, commerce, and 
        communication, the accompanying benefits to economic development, 
        education, and health care, and the informed discussion that is the 
        bedrock of democratic self-government that the Internet provides;
Whereas the structure of Internet governance has profound implications for 
        competition and trade, democratization, free expression, and access to 
        information;
Whereas countries have obligations to protect human rights, which are advanced 
        by online activity as well as offline activity;
Whereas the ability to innovate, develop technical capacity, grasp economic 
        opportunities, and promote freedom of expression online is best realized 
        in cooperation with all stakeholders;
Whereas proposals have been put forward for consideration at the 2012 World 
        Conference on International Telecommunications that would fundamentally 
        alter the governance and operation of the Internet;
Whereas the proposals, in international bodies such as the United Nations 
        General Assembly, the United Nations Commission on Science and 
        Technology for Development, and the International Telecommunication 
        Union, would attempt to justify increased government control over the 
        Internet and would undermine the current multistakeholder model that has 
        enabled the Internet to flourish and under which the private sector, 
        civil society, academia, and individual users play an important role in 
        charting its direction;
Whereas the proposals would diminish the freedom of expression on the Internet 
        in favor of government control over content;
Whereas the position of the United States Government has been and is to advocate 
        for the flow of information free from government control; and
Whereas this and past Administrations have made a strong commitment to the 
        multistakeholder model of Internet governance and the promotion of the 
        global benefits of the Internet: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, should continue working to 
implement the position of the United States on Internet governance that 
clearly articulates the consistent and unequivocal policy of the United 
States to promote a global Internet free from government control and 
preserve and advance the successful multistakeholder model that governs 
the Internet today.

            Passed the Senate September 22 (legislative day, September 
      21), 2012.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                            S. CON. RES. 50

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and 
advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet 
                              has thrived.