It's 1998 again: NTIA issues call for public comment on ICANN

[Milton Mueller]

An important development --MM

The United States Department of Commerce's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment
on the continuation of the transition of the technical coordination
and
management of the Internet domain name and addressing system (Internet
DNS) to the private sector.  In June 1998, the Department issued a
statement of policy on the privatization of the Internet DNS, which
among other things articulated four primary functions for global
Internet DNS coordination and management, the need to have these
functions performed by the private sector and four principles to guide
the transition to private sector management of the Internet DNS.  On
June 30, 2005, NTIA released the U.S. Principles on the Internet's
Domain Name and Addressing System further elaborating on these issues.
The Department of Commerce seeks comment regarding the progress of
this
transition and announces a public meeting to be held on July 26, 2006,
to discuss issues associated with this transition.

DATES: Comments are due on or before July 7, 2006.  The public meeting
will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2006.

Dr. Milton Mueller
Syracuse University School of Information Studies
http://www.digital-convergence.org
http://www.internetgovernance.org