[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
[NOTE: Dec. 5, 2012 -  [S.Con.Res.50] INTERNET MULTISTAKEHOLDER GOVERNANCE MODEL--SUPPORT


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;



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126 STAT. 2516

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.

Agreed to December 5, 2012.