The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), on behalf of the Department of Commerce, recently conducted a mid-term review of the Department’s Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The JPA is a continuation of a series of agreements between the Department and ICANN to facilitate the transition of the technical coordination of the management functions related to the Internet domain name and addressing system (DNS) to the private sector.
Although views during the midterm review represent diverse perspectives, there was general consensus on the need to preserve the security and stability of the DNS and the recognition that ICANN is the appropriate technical coordinator of the Internet DNS. ICANN has made significant progress in several key areas, but most participants agree that important work remains to increase institutional confidence through implementing effective processes that will enable: long term stability; accountability; responsiveness; continued private sector leadership, stakeholder participation; increased contract compliance; and enhanced competition. It is important to note that the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions contract was not part of the JPA mid-term review.
Over the next eighteen months, NTIA will continue to monitor ICANN’s performance in meeting the ten responsibilities articulated in the annex to the JPA. Furthermore, NTIA remains fully committed to the 2005 U.S. Principles on the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System.
NTIA would like to gratefully acknowledge the ICANN community’s efforts to provide well-reasoned and substantive contributions to the mid-term review of the JPA. NTIA considers all of the contributions and perspectives shared as invaluable elements of this review and looks forward to further discussions on the topic.