[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 212 (Friday, November 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62220-62222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21626]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 071023616-7617-01]


The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and 
Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System: Midterm 
Review of the Joint Project Agreement

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commence

ACTION: Notice of Inquiry

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce's National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comments 
on the continued transition to the private sector of the technical 
coordination and management of the Internet's domain name and 
addressing system (DNS). NTIA and the Internet Corporation for Assigned 
Names and Numbers (ICANN) signed a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) on 
September 29, 2006. It called for a midpoint review of ICANN's progress 
towards becoming a more stable organization with greater transparency 
and accountability in its procedures and decision making. The 
Department of Commerce seeks comment regarding the progress achieved on 
the Responsibilities identified in the JPA.

DATES: Comments are due on or before February 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to Suzanne R. 
Sene, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4701, 
Washington, DC 20230. Paper submissions should include a three and one-
half inch computer diskette in HTML, ASCII, Word or WordPerfect format 
(please specify version). Diskettes should be labeled with the name and 
organizational affiliation of the filer, and the name of the word 
processing program used to create the document. Alternatively, comments 
may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. 
Comments provided via electronic mail should also be submitted in one 
or more of the formats specified above. Comments will be posted to 
NTIA's website at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpamidtermreview.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice 
contact: Suzanne R. Sene, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, 
N.W., Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3167; or 
email: [email protected] Please direct media inquiries to the Office 
of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: A July 1, 1997 Executive 
Memorandum directed the Secretary of Commerce to privatize the domain 
name system (DNS) in a manner that increases competition and 
facilitates international participation in its management.\1\ In order 
to fulfill this Presidential directive, the Department of Commerce in 
June 1998, issued a statement of policy on the privatization of the 
Internet Domain Name System (DNS), known as the DNS White Paper.\2\ 
This document articulated four primary functions for global DNS 
coordination and management:
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    \1\ Memorandum on Electronic Commerce, 2 Pub. Papers 898 (July 
1, 1997).
    \2\ Management of Internet Names and Addresses, 63 Fed. Reg. 
31,741 (June 10, 1998).
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    1. To set policy for and direct the allocation of IP number blocks;
    2. To oversee the operation of the Internet root server system;
    3. To oversee policy for determining the circumstances under which 
new top level domains (TLDs) would be added to the root server system; 
and
    4. To coordinate the assignment of other technical protocol 
parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity on the 
Internet.
    In the DNS White Paper, the Department of Commerce concluded that 
these functions were relevant to the state of the DNS and should be 
primarily performed through private sector management. To this end, the 
Department of Commerce stated that it was prepared to enter into 
agreement with a new not-for-profit corporation formed by private 
sector Internet stakeholders. Private sector interests formed the 
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for this 
purpose. In the fall of 1998, the Department of Commerce entered into a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICANN, a California non-profit 
corporation, to transition technical DNS

[[Page 62221]]

coordination and management functions to the private sector.\3\
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    \3\ Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Department of 
Commerce and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 
(November 25, 1998), available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/icann-memorandum.htm.
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    On June 30, 2005 NTIA released the U.S. Principles on the 
Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System, which state: the United 
States Government intends to preserve the security and stability of the 
DNS by maintaining its historic role in authorizing changes or 
modifications to the authoritative root zone file; governments have 
legitimate interest in the management of their country code top level 
domains (ccTLD); ICANN is the appropriate technical manager of the 
Internet's DNS; and dialogue related to Internet governance should 
continue in relevant multiple fora.\4\
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    \4\U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Principles on the 
Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System (June 30, 2005), http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usdnsprinciples_06302005.htm.
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    On May 23, 2006, NTIA issued a Notice of Inquiry and announced a 
Public Meeting on The Continued Transition of the Technical 
Coordination and Management of the Internet Domain Name and Addressing 
System.\5\ The public consultation resulted in over 700 contributions 
from individuals, private corporations, trade associations, non-
governmental entities and foreign governments. It showed broad support 
for continuing the transition of the coordination of the technical 
management of the DNS to the private sector and the continued 
involvement of the DOC in this transition. On September 29, 2006, NTIA 
and ICANN signed a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) extending the current 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and ICANN. The JPA 
called for a midpoint review of ICANN's progress towards becoming a 
more stable organization with greater transparency and accountability 
in its procedures and decision making.
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    \5\U.S. Department of Commerce,Notice of Inquiry, Notice of 
Public Meeting: The Continued Transition of the Technical 
Coordination and Management of the Internet Domain Name and 
Addressing System to the private sector. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/dnstransition.html.
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REQUEST FOR COMMENT:

    Given the requirement of a midterm review in the JPA, NTIA seeks 
comments on the progress achieved on the Responsibilities included in 
the JPA.
    The questions below are intended to assist in identifying the 
issues and should not be construed as a limitation on comments that may 
be submitted. When references are made to studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published, please provide copies of 
the referenced materials with the submitted comments.
    1. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to security and stability: ``ICANN shall coordinate, at the overall 
level, the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and in 
particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's 
unique identifier systems.''\6\ What progress do you believe ICANN has 
achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If 
you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? 
Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \6\See JPA Annex A, ] 1.
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    2. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to transparency: ``ICANN shall continue to develop, test and improve 
processes and procedures to encourage improved transparency, 
accessibility, efficiency, and timeliness in the consideration and 
adoption of policies related to technical coordination of the Internet 
DNS, and funding for ICANN operations. ICANN will innovate and aspire 
to be a leader in the area of transparency for organizations involved 
in private sector management.''\7\ What progress do you believe ICANN 
has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? 
If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? 
Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \7\Id at ] 2.
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    3. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to accountability: ``ICANN shall continue to develop, test, maintain, 
and improve on accountability mechanisms to be responsive to global 
Internet stakeholders in the consideration and adoption of policies 
related to the technical coordination of the Internet DNS, including 
continuing to improve openness and accessibility for enhanced 
participation in ICANN's bottom-up participatory policy development 
processes.''\8\ What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with 
regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe 
that progress has been made, please explain how and why? Could more be 
done by ICANN in this area?
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    \8\Id at ] 3.
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    4. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to root server security and relationships: ``ICANN shall continue to 
coordinate with the operators of root name servers and other 
appropriate experts with respect to the operational and security 
matters, both physical and network, relating to the secure and stable 
coordination of the root zone; ensure appropriate contingency planning; 
maintain clear processes in root zone changes. ICANN will work to 
formalize relationships with root name server operators.''\9\ What 
progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this 
Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has 
been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in 
this area?
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    \9\Id at ] 4.
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    5. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to TLD management: ``ICANN shall maintain and build on processes to 
ensure that competition, consumer interests, and Internet DNS stability 
and security issues are identified and considered in TLD management 
decisions, including the consideration and implementation of new TLDs 
and the introduction of IDNs. ICANN will continue to develop its policy 
development processes, and will further develop processes for taking 
into account recommendations from ICANN's advisory committees and 
supporting organizations and other relevant expert advisory panels and 
organizations. ICANN shall continue to enforce existing policy relating 
to WHOIS, such existing policy requires that ICANN implement measures 
to maintain timely, unrestricted and public access to accurate and 
complete WHOIS information, including registrant, technical, billing 
and administrative contact information. ICANN shall continue its 
efforts to achieve stable agreements with country-code top-level domain 
(ccTLD) operators.''\10\ What progress do you believe ICANN has 
achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If 
you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? 
Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \10\Id at ] 5.
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    6. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to the multi-stakeholder model: ``ICANN shall maintain and improve 
multi-stakeholder model and the global participation of all 
stakeholders, including conducting reviews of its existing advisory 
committees and supporting organizations, and will continue to further 
the effectiveness of the bottom-up policy development processes. ICANN 
will strive to increase engagement with the Private Sector by

[[Page 62222]]

developing additional mechanisms for involvement of those affected by 
the ICANN policies.''\11\ What progress do you believe ICANN has 
achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If 
you believe that progress has been made, please explain how and why? 
Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \11\Id at ] 6.
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    7. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to the role of governments: ``ICANN shall work with the Government 
Advisory Committee Members to review the GAC's role within ICANN so as 
to facilitate effective consideration of GAC advice on the public 
policy aspects of the technical coordination of the Internet.''\12\ 
What progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this 
Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has 
been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in 
this area?
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    \12\Id at ] 7.
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    8. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to IP addressing: ``ICANN shall continue to work collaboratively on a 
global and regional level so as to incorporate Regional Internet 
Registries' policy-making activities into the ICANN processes while 
allowing them to continue their technical work. ICANN shall continue to 
maintain legal agreements with the RIRs (and such other appropriate 
organizations) reflecting this work.''\13\ What progress do you believe 
ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility since October 1, 
2006? If you believe that progress has been made, please explain how 
and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \13\Id at ] 8.
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    9. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with respect 
to corporate responsibility: ``ICANN shall maintain excellence and 
efficiency in operations, including good governance, organizational 
measures to maintain stable, international private sector organization, 
and shall maintain relevant technical and business experience for 
members of the Board of Directors, executive management, and staff. 
ICANN will implement appropriate mechanisms that foster participation 
in ICANN by global Internet stakeholders, such as providing educational 
services and fostering information sharing for constituents and 
promoting best practices among industry segments.''\14\ What progress 
do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this Responsibility 
since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has been made, 
please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in this area?
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    \14\Id at ] 9.
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    10. In the JPA, ICANN agreed to undertake the following with 
respect to its corporate administrative structure: ``ICANN shall 
conduct a review of, and shall make necessary changes in, corporate 
administrative structure to ensure stability, including devoting 
adequate resources to contract enforcement, taking into account 
organizational and corporate governance ``best practices.''\15\ What 
progress do you believe ICANN has achieved with regard to this 
Responsibility since October 1, 2006? If you believe that progress has 
been made, please explain how and why? Could more be done by ICANN in 
this area?
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    \15\Id at ] 10.

    Dated: October 30, 2007.
John M. R. Kneuer,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. E7-21626 Filed 11-1-07; 8:45 am]
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