IANA functions
The United States Departmentof Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) remains committed to preserving a stable and secure Internet Domain Name System (DNS). Critical to the DNS is the continued performance of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions. The IANA functions have historically included: (1) The coordination of the assignment of technical Internet protocol parameters; (2) the administration of certain responsibilities associated with Internet DNS root zone management; (3) the allocation of Internet numbering resources; and (4) other services related to the management of the .ARPA and .INT top-level domains. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) performed the IANA functions, on behalf of the United States Government, through a contract with NTIA.
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Testimony of Assistant Secretary Strickling on Protecting Internet Freedom: Implications of Ending U.S. Oversight of the Internet
Testimony of
The Honorable Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
United States Department of Commerce
Before the
Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Hearing entitled
What They're Saying: Why It's Important to Complete the IANA Stewardship Transition
In March 2014, NTIA initiated the final step in the privatization of the Internet’s domain name system (DNS) by asking ICANN to convene its global stakeholders to develop a plan to transition the stewardship role NTIA plays related to the DNS technical functions, known as the IANA functions. In June, NTIA announced that, after a thorough review, the transition proposal developed by Internet stakeholders meets the criteria we outlined aimed at maintaining the stability, security, and openness of the Internet that users across the globe depend on today.
In recent days, many Internet stakeholders have talked about the importance of completing the transition and the potential negative impacts of a delay. Here’s what they are saying:
Fact Sheet: The IANA Stewardship Transition Explained
- The IANA transition is the culmination of a nearly 20-year effort to privatize the Internet domain name system (DNS). This has been a goal of Democratic and Republican administrations since 1997. The U.S.