[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS ON GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNET

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Representative Eshoo, 
Representative Bono Mack, Representative Upton, and Representative 
Walden as an original co-sponsor of this resolution.
  The Internet has been a unique and powerful driver of social and 
economic progress. A critical element of that success has been the open 
manner in which the Internet is governed. Rather than relying on 
centralized control by governments, the Internet instead adopts a 
multi-stakeholder model in which all who have an interest can have a 
voice in the Internet's operation.
  Lately, however, the multi-stakeholder model towards Internet 
governance has been under assault on the global stage. In a few months 
at the World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai in 
December, the International Telecommunication Union may consider 
proposals that could fundamentally alter the way the Internet operates. 
Some of these proposals, if adopted, would undermine the successful 
decentralized approach to Internet governance and impose a government-
controlled management regime, thereby threatening citizens' access to 
content and information via the Internet as well as the global free 
flow of information online.
  We cannot allow this to happen.
  The Obama Administration has worked diligently to ensure that the 
Internet remains a tool for the global dissemination of ideas, 
information, and commerce. In doing so, the Administration continues 
the work of previous Administrations of both parties in protecting a 
global open Internet as a tool that benefits citizens around the world.
  In May, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a 
hearing to examine proposals that would change the Internet governance 
model.
  At that hearing we heard from witnesses from the Administration and 
experts with a long history of working on issues relating to Internet 
governance. The witnesses all agreed that the United States must 
continue to resist any proposals that would undermine the multi-
stakeholder model. Their testimony reinforced my belief that Democrats 
and Republicans in Congress must stand united with the Administration 
in its efforts to resist proposals that would undermine the existing 
multi-stakeholder approach.
  I am pleased that so many Democrats and Republicans have signed on as 
co-sponsors of this resolution.
  This large, bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors demonstrates that 
there is support across the political spectrum for continuing the 
multi-stakeholder model that allows the Internet to thrive. We urge the 
Administration to continue to resist international efforts to allow 
greater government control of the Internet, and I urge my colleagues to 
vote for this resolution.

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