Navigating the Internet requires using addresses and corresponding names that identify the location of individual computers. The Domain Name System DNS is the distributed set of databases residing in computers around the world that contain address numbers mapped to corresponding domain names, making it possible to send and receive messages and to access information from computers anywhere on the Internet.
Many of the technical, operational, and management decisions regarding the DNS can have significant impacts on Internet-related policy issues such as intellectual property, privacy, Internet freedom, e-commerce, and cybersecurity. Because the Internet evolved from a network infrastructure created by the Department of Defense, the U. NTIA has also stated that it will not accept any transition proposal that would replace the NTIA role with a government-led or an intergovernmental organization solution.
In the th Congress, H. In the Senate, S. As a transition plan is developed by ICANN and the Internet community, Congress will likely monitor and evaluate that plan, and seek assurances that an Internet and domain name system free of U. How these and other DNS-related issues such as intellectual property, cybersecurity, and privacy are ultimately addressed and resolved could have profound impacts on the continuing evolution of ICANN, the DNS, and the Internet.
On March 14, , the DOC's National Telecommunications and Information Administration NTIA announced its intention to transition its stewardship role and procedural authority over key domain name functions to the global Internet multistakeholder community.
Legislation was introduced into the th Congress seeking to limit NTIA's ability to transfer its authority over certain domain name functions.
